The King's Corner

This pun speaks for itself.  America is the land that we love.   Let's sing and mean the words, especially this year. O beautiful for spacious skies,  For amber waves of grain,  For purple mountain majesties  Above the fruited plain!  America! America!  God shed His grace on thee,  And crown thy good with brotherhood  From sea to shining sea!  O beautiful for pilgrim feet  Whose stern impassioned stress,  A thoroughfare for freedom beat  Across the wilderness!  America! America!  God mend thine every flaw,  Confirm thy soul in self-control,  Thy liberty in law!  O beautiful for heroes proved  In liberating strife,  Who more than self their country love  And mercy more than life!  America! America!  May God thy gold refine  Till all success be nobleness,  And every gain divine!  O beautiful for patriot dream  That sees beyond the years,  Thine alabaster cities gleam  Undimmed by human tears!  America! America!  God shed His grace on thee,  And crown thy good with brotherhood  From s

Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'  While they  went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door fo

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias' own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you." He even swore many things to her, "I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom."  She went out and said to her mother, "Wh

What follows is an article worth reading especially about a wake-up call we all need to take. Here is a quote: "If our fellow citizens are wary of Christianity—or at least, of a movement that purports to be Christian, such as Christian nationalism—the church should take it as a wake-up call."  The article is entitled: "Americans are worried about Christian nationalism. The church should take that as a wake-up call" by Kathleen Bonnette May 2024 (America Magazine). I reference this article because I am alarmed by Christian nationalism and its consequences. We all should be. (begin) A recent story in Politico by Alexander Ward and Heidi Przybyla (“Trump allies prepare to infuse ‘Christian nationalism’ in second administration”) and the kerfuffle it has animated in Christian spaces is in need of some nuance. The authors warn of the dangers of a Christian nationalist agenda; they also highlight documents indicating that Christian nationalism would be an explicit policy

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” (Matthew 23:23-26) We are blind when we sit under the apple tree with anyone else than the one we love and with whom we have a covenant through marriage.  Here are relevant lyrics from “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” sung by The Andrews Sisters.

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.’ Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.’  You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it; one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it; one who swears by h

  Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that

  I’m a Daddy-Saurus.  However, the good times are now.  Cell phones and the internet have widened our horizons and have made us far better informed.  We can research anything.  For example, the Eucharistic Congress was open to us all through the internet.  Christ the King goings-on are immediately viewed. All sorts of articles and announcements are available with a few clicks of the keys. Of course the internet and cell phone have added to our daily stress because information-overload and propaganda laced with lies and misleading information can beat us down and confuse us.  AI has the potential to fool us and cause us to never be sure of what is true.  Demons roam the net looking for willing victims and dupes.   Therefore, it can be argued that the “good times” were many years ago, but I don’t believe that to be the case.  Now is the best of times, although I wish I was a lot younger to enjoy what is to come, UNLESS, a Matrix-like fate (unsettling movie, but one of my favorites) is i

The hand of the LORD came upon me, and led me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the center of the plain, which was now filled with bones. He made me walk among the bones in every direction so that I saw how many they were on the surface of the plain. How dry they were! He asked me: Son of man, can these bones come to life?  I answered, “Lord GOD, you alone know that.” Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life. I will put sinews upon you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put spirit in you so that you may come to life and know that I am the LORD. I prophesied as I had been told, and even as I was prophesying I heard a noise; it was a rattling as the bones came together, bone joining bone. I saw the sinews and the flesh come upon them, and the skin cover them, but there was no spirit in them.  Then the L

Thus says the LORD: I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it. Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.  For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. You shall live in the land I gave your ancestors; you shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:23-28) “I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.” Now that’s quite a responsibility! Do we prove God’s holiness

The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, in these words prophesy to them to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered for the lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.  Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have been given over to pillage, and because my sheep have become food

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are haughty of heart, you say, “A god am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!”— And yet you are a man, and not a god, however you may think yourself like a god. Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that is beyond you. By your wisdom and your intelligence you have made riches for yourself; You have put gold and silver into your treasuries. By your great wisdom applied to your trading you have heaped up your riches; your heart has grown haughty from your riches–therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god, therefore, I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations. They shall draw their swords against your beauteous wisdom, they shall run them through your splendid apparel. They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea. Will you then s

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes, but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears. Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead, bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.  That evening my wife died, and the next morning I did as I had been commanded. Then the people asked me, “Will you not tell us what all these things that you are doing mean for us?” I therefore spoke to the people that morning, saying to them: Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride, the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul. The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword.  Ezekiel shall be a sign for you: all that he did you shall do when it happens. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD. You shall do as I have done, not covering your

A challenge for many of us is to remember people, places, and things especially from our past.  Many of us have direct experience with loss of memory caused by the ageing process we all experience to one extent or another.   Our memories are precious, but some are not very pleasant, and we would like to erase them. Our lives are not always easy, all peaches and cream. Nevertheless, remembering the good and not so good is important to our overall health, well-being, our humanity, and our connection to the suffering servant we call Christ. Moreover, we all want those we love to remember us when we are separated from them in space and time, and certainly after our deaths. With that in mind, I remind everyone of the Disney-Pixar 2017 movie called “Coco” and its memorable song: “Remember me.” Many of us likely have not seen it, and if not, give it a look; you’ll like it. Ask Alexa to play the song.

  Too many of us don't learn this valuable lesson.  High brain function is achieved when we delve into scripture in a persistent and meaningful way.  The more we read our Bible and use commentaries to help us understand what we read, the more inspiring and therapeutic the Word of God can be.   Class is in session.  Put our cell phones away, and pay attention, Deacon David Pierce

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations. Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: By origin and birth you are of the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, the day you were born your navel cord was not cut; you were neither washed with water nor anointed, nor were you rubbed with salt, nor swathed in swaddling clothes. No one looked on you with pity or compassion to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out on the ground as something loathsome, the day you were born. Then I passed by and saw you weltering in your blood. I said to you: Live in your blood and grow like a plant in the field. You grew and developed, you came to the age of puberty; your breasts were formed, your hair had grown, but you were still stark naked. Again I passed by you and saw that you were now old enough for love. So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover your nakedness; I swore an oath to yo

  We tend to complain about the price of eggs and other groceries, yet we give short shrift to gun violence, political violence, and religious violence.  It's a mystery how we don't get it right.  Jesus preached against violence of any kind.  When will get on his bandwagon?   Deacon David Pierrce

With the Olympics having concluded, I noticed this uplifting article; "Weightlifting champion puts barbell to the side for a new journey — the priesthood" by Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Aug 4, 2024 (begin) Will Heller, a 21-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, is a two-time Junior National Medalist and All American, a state record holder in Ohio and Michigan, and the 2023 University National Champion in the 102 kilogram class in weightlifting. However, the weightlifting phenom now has his sights on a more soul-intensive goal — becoming a Catholic priest. At the age of 17, Heller was introduced to the sport of weightlifting by his high school strength and conditioning coach. He quickly excelled in the sport and earned a plethora of achievements, including being invited to represent Team USA in the 2022 and 2024 FISU America Games, the 2023 U20 Pan-American Championships, and the 2023 U20 World Championships. Weightlifting consists of two lifts: the clean and jerk and the snatch

We all know the importance of prayer.  We pray for many things especially for the good health of our loved ones and for ourselves in times of trouble and distress.  We take prayers very seriously.  We can pray for whomever we choose and for whatever reason we like. We hope God hears our prayers, and they will be answered.   We say and hear many prayers every Sunday such as: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”   This prayer is ripe with meaning, and it must guide our decisions and behavior.  That’s why we pray it.   Therefore, it is instructive to listen to prayers addressed to large audiences to understand what is being requested of God.  What follows is startling, outrageous, and blasphemous.  I provide this article to inform, not to push

Why didn't the chicken cross the road?  Answer: It was chicken. As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were overwhelmed with grief. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes," he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?" When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you."

Brothers and sisters: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 4:30-5:2) Mrs. Almighty has a point.  We human beings – we so-called intelligent creatures – tend to act with bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling.  We are full of all malice. We tend not to be kind to one another, compassionate, or forgiving.  We apes really have messed things up. If only God could patch us up.  That attempt has been tried through the Son, Jesus, our Christ.  If only we would listen to him. Deacon David Pierce

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” (John 12:24-26) Religion and politics don’t mix.  Right?  No, they do mix according to James Talarico, Texas legislator and seminarian in the Presbyterian Church.  I also believe they mix, but if I dare to mix the two from the pulpit, well, there is hell to pay since Christ the King is deeply divided on political preferences, especially with the Presidential election looming large. Talarico’s sermon on the separation of church and state is compelling.  He highlights Jesus’s two commandments: to love God and to love our neighbors .  The latter involves political decisions to be

We all should go high and never low.  We all are made in the image and likeness of God, so the first box should be our only choice.   Life may be a series of compromises, but let's never compromise on this one. Deacon David Pierce

Polarization is dangerous for each of us and for our Church - never mind our country.  Temperatures are rising and not just due to climate change casing glaciers to melt, among other alarming environmental changes. What follows is the article "Lowering the temperature in Catholic culture wars—over a meal" by Tim Busch (July 22 in America Magazine) (begin) Politics isn’t the only place where polarization is rampant and worsening by the day. The Catholic Church is increasingly divided, too. The growing chasm threatens to split the institution that calls itself the one true church. In the same way that Americans must rediscover how to disagree without being disagreeable, Catholics must relearn how to look beyond our differences. The place to start, I think, is somewhere simple—by sitting down and speaking with each other. Over the past year, my wife and I have convened four such gatherings at our Manhattan apartment, with more than 40 prominent Catholics from across the ideolog

  Bishop Robert Barron gave the keynote address at the National Eucharistic Congress.  YouTube his full 30-minute presentation.   He said such things as we must beware of any personal search for wealth, pleasure, power, and honor.  He said our bodies must be given for others and our blood poured out on behalf of others.  He said we become what we eat - the Eucharist.  So, let's eat, give and pour.  That's how we enter the Kingdom of God. Deacon David Pierce

Go to YouTube and view Jonathan Roumie's speech at the National Eucharistic Congree.   Playing Jesus on The Chosen has given him a faith-filled perspective on Jesus and the Last Supper.  You will enjoy and be uplifted by what he had to say.  He read a passage from John making us feel as if we are at the table with Jesus.   God bless Jonathan! Deacon David Pierce

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.  When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves." He said to them, "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves." But they said to him, " Five loaves and two fish  (my emphasis) are all we have here." Then he said, "Bring them here to me," and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and

I admit I forgot about 2025, except for the possibility of a repeat of Donald Trump as President.  We all have different opinions about that prospect.  I’ll keep mine to myself although I suspect readers of my blogs know my position and fears. Next year is special.  America Magazine’s Gerald O’Connell wrote on May 9, 2024: Hope is the central message of Pope Francis’ decree for Jubilee Year 2025 (begin) Pope Francis today promulgated the decree, known as a “Bull of Indiction,” for the Jubilee Year 2025, which he will open in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2024, and close on Jan. 6, 2026.

    Teaching About Retaliation 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. 40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. 41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.  42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.   (Matthew 5:38-42)

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?”  And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith. (Matthew 13:54-58) Where did Jesus get such wisdom and mighty deeds?  We know.  What was some of that wisdom?  An important part was a rethinking of the necessity of forgiveness as opposed to revenge.  A new way of thinking and behavior was championed by Jesus.  The Temple and payment for services rendered was no longer the only way to forgive sins. Jesus said: 1. “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But

Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there. (Matthew 13:47-53) We all have done wicked things.  We all have been righteous at one time or another.  So, where do we go?  Into fiery furnaces despite whatever good we have done?  Black versus white or good versus bad thinking and comparisons are perilous because we are ma