The Solemnity of Jesus Christ the King is celebrated this weekend on the Last Sunday of the Church’s Liturgical Year! As Advent draws nigh, we ask ourselves the question – Is Jesus Lord in my heart and in my family, in my home?
What does this question mean? What does the answer look like? Perhaps we can look at it this way: when we sit down to watch a TV show on Hulu or a series on Prime Video we might consider that Jesus will be watching it with us. When we make our monthly budgets for how we spend our income, we might want to ask Him about how we spend our money. When we are faced with a decision, we might want to ask Jesus what the right thing to do is (not what is easiest or what makes us most comfortable). Our homes should be adorned not just with pretty pictures of Moon River or the Savannah Marsh or the Tybee Lighthouse, but beautiful images or statues of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the saints (you don’t need to make your home into a chapel or place of pilgrimage, but there should be reminders of Jesus all around us). Jesus should be in every room in our heart (every relationship we have, every situation in which we find ourselves, every aspect of our life). He should also be in every room in our home (at least a crucifix or a cross in every room). This is what it might look like when we say that Jesus is King and Lord in our hearts, in our families, and in our homes.
Health Update
After meeting with my doctor, she was pleased to see that the chemotherapy was working and the diseased places were responding to the treatment. So, she wants me to continue with the chemotherapy through December and then take a scan the first week of January. After reviewing the scan, a surgery date will be set for the first part of February. Then, it will be recovering from the surgery for a few months.
Your prayers are keeping me positive and in a truly Christian attitude through this journey the Lord has laid before me! They encourage me and pick me up all through the day!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving! My heart is filled with gratitude for you and your prayers and you witness to our faith! Each day, I give the Lord Jesus thanks for you and for our St. James parish family! What a blessing you are to me! Thank you for everything!
May the Lord Jesus bless each of you and your families abundantly this Thanksgiving week!
~ Fr. Daniel Firmin