Christ the King – Life on the Chrism Trail

Homily for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

November 20, 2022
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church
Prosper, Texas

2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalm 122:1-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Luke 23:35-43

To reveal the exact nature of the Kingship and sovereignty of Jesus, Saint Luke presents the last moments of Jesus life as He is dying on the cross. The religious leaders, most of whom rejected Jesus during His earthly ministry, were mocking Him as He is dying. They believe that they have overcome Him by their political maneuvering and will be rid of Him as a nuisance. Jesus always spoke with them directly and honestly about God and their need for conversion, and now they were publicly degrading Him, rejecting Him as the Messiah sent by the Father to save them.

Solemnity of Christ the King

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas
November 22, 2020

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
1st. Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46

The Netherlands is frequently associated with the reclamation of land from the sea, as its engineers are famous for developing techniques like polders to drain wetlands and make them usable for agriculture and other development. The Dutch have a saying: “God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands.” Yet, every so often this land is invaded by floods and requires it to be drained again and reclaimed. I think that it is inaccurate to consider the ocean to be an invader; rather, the ocean is simply returning to what is rightfully its own. God created the Netherlands too.