A Letter From Our Pastor: What is Our True Role

Dear Parishioners,

You may very well laugh as I provide the topic of my letter for this issue of our newsletter — your participation as a Christian layperson in Christ’s kingly function.

At first, it may seem like a joke, the notion that we have a share in the reign of Christ the King. Parents’ reactions may very well be, “I can’t even get my own children to obey me!” The whole idea sounds so grandiose, when we’re already thinking about how our daily lives could be just a little bit easier — if only we’d find that perfect parking spot or shorter checkout lines at the store.

But please take note, Christ’s kingly role is shared with the laity of the Church as well as with the clergy. After all, the first pope was addressing the whole Church when he wrote that they were “a royal priesthood” (1 Pt 2:9).

Because Jesus came to us humans as a servant, He reached the glory of His Kingdom only after the most appalling suffering on our behalf. As the bishops at Vatican II taught, “Christ, becoming obedient even unto death and because of this exalted by the Father, entered into the glory of His kingdom. To Him all things are made subject until He subjects Himself and all created things to the Father that God may be all in all. Now Christ has communicated this royal power to His disciples that they might be constituted in royal freedom and that by true penance and a holy life they might conquer the reign of sin in themselves” (Lumen Gentium, 36).

The bishops went on to state that the Lord wishes to spread His kingdom, “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.” And, they maintained, that responsibility is shared by the laity and the clergy alike.

So we’ve been told one aspect of our royal function — conquering sin in our own lives to become holy, with God’s grace. What else?

The bishops went on to declare that our kingly duties are not limited to our own lives, even if we think that’s all we can handle. “They must assist each other to live holier lives even in their daily occupations. In this way the world may be permeated by the spirit of Christ and it may more effectively fulfill its purpose in justice, charity and peace. The laity has the principal role in the overall fulfillment of this duty.” We even have to help our neighbor live a holier life — without, of course, overriding his free consent.

In particular, while the clergy and religious have a greater specialist knowledge of the theology and the Church, members of the laity know more of other aspects of society, business and the sciences. “Therefore, by their competence in secular training and by their activity, elevated from within by the grace of Christ, let them vigorously contribute their effort, so that created goods may be perfected by human labor, technical skill and civic culture for the benefit of all men according to the design of the Creator and the light of His Word.”

As faithful stewards, we strive to continually develop our understanding of Christ’s functions of priest, prophet and king. So, we should examine our own roles in Christ’s reign this month. How we use our time, talent and treasure tells much about how well we rise to these challenges.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Tom Donovan, Pastor