Christ the King Dear Parishioners: What difference does it make to us in 2016 that Christ is our King? As we end this year’s worship cycle and the Jubilee Year of Mercy, as we prepare for Advent to begin next weekend, why do we choose to celebrate Christ as our King? Did you know that Pope Pius XI promulgated the celebration of Christ as King for the whole church only in 1925? Before that, Christ was honored as king as one title among many. So why do we honor Christ as King today? It is difficult to think of Jesus of Nazareth as a king. Jesus spent his life as a servant. Doesn’t the title “king” seem at best a misnomer, and at worst a misrepresentation of the one God sent to be a shepherd and savior and friend? Perhaps the role of “king” no longer has appeal. Since the American and European revolutions, democratic people have been suspicious of the idea of kingship. Think of what you associate with “royalty” – people who are born into privilege and don’t earn it. A king is an un-elected ruler with absolute authority. Kingship is antithetical to our egalitarian values. True, royalty works in fairy tales. We tell children the story of Cinderella because it depicts an appealing view of royalty. Every little girl wants to be discovered as princess material. In the romantic worldview, the prince and princess live happily ever after, and it only rains at night in Camelot. Perhaps one reason that the title “king” is unsettling for Jesus is that it seems to have been thrust upon him. Surely the title “king” is not one that Jesus would have chosen for himself. Jesus is beloved precisely because he avoids both the title and acclaim that comes from being a king. Perhaps the main reason to see Jesus as a king stems from our Jewish heritage. Today’s first reading from Samuel represents David as the ideal king. Jesus exercises his kingly reign as a shepherd like Da- vid. Then there’s today’s hymn to the Colossians – the faith tradi- tion establishes the primacy of Jesus over all creation. His death has power to reconcile everything in heaven and on earth, and to make peace through the blood of his cross. This kind of sovereignty is the realm of royal kingship. The most sober view of Christ as King comes from the criminal dying alongside Jesus on Calvary. His act of faith recognizes that Jesus means to be a different kind of king. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Christ as king of the next world provides us with today’s challenge: what is your compass in this life, your north star for navigating life’s choices. Is it Christ, or some other value? Christ dismantles the world’s use of power. Christ undoes the triangle of greed, violence, and retribution. In Christ there is no envy, jealousy, or lust for power. The innocent King who executes no one is himself executed. He seeks no vengeance. In all of human history, Christ the King is the only sovereign to embody such principles. When you and I acknowledge Christ as God and king, we ac- cept the reversal of the violence that dominates our world. Here is the poignant truth. The only way a non-violent Deity can signal his exist- ence to the human race is to accept our free choice to drive him out by violence. In the way Jesus is King, he is truly original, truly exceptional – he is the divine challenge to a world that imagines kingship to be domination of others. 3400 SE 43rd Avenue * Portland, OR 97206 * 503-777-1491 * www.sipdx.org November 20, 2 0 1 6 ST IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH Continued inside>>> Today’s Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3 Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5 Colossians 1:12-20 Next Sunday’s Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5 Romans 13:11-14 Matthew 24:37-44 Preaching Next Sunday: Fr. Craig Boly, SJ Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM Sunday Contemplative: 7:30 PM Daily: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM Centering Prayer: Fridays 7:00 AM Anointing Mass: First Fridays 8:00 AM First Saturday Mass: 8:00 AM Communion Service: Saturdays 8:00 AM Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30-4:30 PM or by appointment with a priest
Transcript
Christ the King
Dear Parishioners:
What difference does it make to us in 2016 that Christ is our King? As we end this year’s worship cycle and the Jubilee Year of Mercy, as we prepare for Advent to begin next weekend, why do we choose to celebrate Christ as our King?
Did you know that Pope Pius XI promulgated the celebration of Christ as King for the whole church only in 1925? Before that, Christ was honored as king as one title among many. So why do we honor Christ as King today?
It is difficult to think of Jesus of Nazareth as a king. Jesus spent his life as a servant. Doesn’t the title “king” seem at best a misnomer, and at worst a misrepresentation of the one God sent to be a shepherd and savior and friend?
Perhaps the role of “king” no longer has appeal. Since the American and European revolutions, democratic people have been suspicious of the idea of kingship. Think of what you associate with “royalty” – people who are born into privilege and don’t earn it. A king is an un-elected ruler with absolute authority. Kingship is antithetical to our egalitarian values.
True, royalty works in fairy tales. We tell children the story of Cinderella because it depicts an appealing view of royalty. Every little girl wants to be discovered as princess material. In the romantic worldview, the prince and princess live happily ever after, and it only rains at night in Camelot.
Perhaps one reason that the title “king” is unsettling for Jesus is that it seems to have been thrust upon him. Surely the title “king” is not one that Jesus would have chosen for himself. Jesus is beloved precisely because he avoids both the title and acclaim that comes from being a king.
Perhaps the main reason to see Jesus as a king stems from our Jewish heritage. Today’s first reading from Samuel represents David as the ideal king. Jesus exercises his kingly reign as a shepherd like Da-vid.
Then there’s today’s hymn to the Colossians – the faith tradi-tion establishes the primacy of Jesus over all creation. His death has power to reconcile everything in heaven and on earth, and to make peace through the blood of his cross. This kind of sovereignty is the realm of royal kingship.
The most sober view of Christ as King comes from the criminal dying alongside Jesus on Calvary. His act of faith recognizes that Jesus means to be a different kind of king. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Christ as king of the next world provides us with today’s challenge: what is your compass in this life, your north star for navigating life’s choices. Is it Christ, or some other value?
Christ dismantles the world’s use of power. Christ undoes the triangle of greed, violence, and retribution. In Christ there is no envy, jealousy, or lust for power. The innocent King who executes no one is himself executed. He seeks no vengeance. In all of human history, Christ the King is the only sovereign to embody such principles.
When you and I acknowledge Christ as God and king, we ac-cept the reversal of the violence that dominates our world. Here is the poignant truth. The only way a non-violent Deity can signal his exist-ence to the human race is to accept our free choice to drive him out by violence. In the way Jesus is King, he is truly original, truly exceptional – he is the divine challenge to a world that imagines kingship to be domination of others.
3400 SE 43rd Avenue * Portland, OR 97206 * 503-777-1491 * www.sipdx.org
N o v e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 6
ST IGNATIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Continued inside>>>
Today’s Readings:
2 Samuel 5:1-3
Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
Colossians 1:12-20
Next Sunday’s Readings:
Isaiah 2:1-5
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:37-44
Preaching Next Sunday: Fr. Craig Boly, SJ
Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
Sunday Contemplative: 7:30 PM
Daily: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM
Centering Prayer: Fr idays 7:00 AM
Anointing Mass: First Fr idays 8:00 AM
First Saturday Mass: 8:00 AM
Communion Service: Saturdays 8:00 AM
Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30-4:30 PM
or by appointment with a priest
*** www.sipdx.org *** November 20 , 2016
Mass Intentions
Monday Nov. 21 † Andrea Cortese
Tuesday Nov. 22 † Marguerite Potwora
Wednesday Nov. 23 † James Corbett Thursday Nov.24 Thanksgiving
Friday Nov.25 † All Souls
RCIA - the Rite of Acceptance and Rite of Welcome After weeks of gathering for inquiry sessions, our parish celebrates an important step for participants in the RCIA process this weekend with the Rite of Acceptance and Rite of Welcome. Adults who are seeking Baptism celebrate the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and become known as Catechumens. In Greek, the word Cate-chumen means “one in whom word echoes” – the Catholic Church uses this as a special name for a person who is preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Baptized Christians who seek to become Catholic celebrate the Rite of Welcome and are now known as Candidates. The Catholic Church uses the term Can-didate to honor the person’s baptism that has already taken place and signify that they are preparing for Confirma-tion and Eucharist. We are also grateful for those serving as Parish Companions who will stand with them in sup-port, and we invite you to pray for our Catechumens and Candidates in the year ahead:
Catechumens: Amanda Skinner , Shelby & Sydney Char lot, Juanita Schloppie, Krista Kent, Norman, Cara, Brian, & Henry Williams.
Candidates: Adam Cargioli, Ashley Clark, Robin Jones, Robin Rodr igues, Jude Hardesty, Jen Buffington, Erica Dulin, Jonathan Cobb, Jenny Weidinger, Katherine Reed, Angus Matheson, Kyle Ostwalt, Olivia Olenic.
WelcomeWelcomeWelcomeWelcome to Our Parish
Mary Nametka
We are so happy you are here!
New to St. Ignatius Parish? Register by dropping a
“Welcome” card in the offering basket with your information, or
visit us online at http://www.sipdx.org/registration
Thanksgiving Day Mass
On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, at 10:00AM, we will gather to celebrate, in gratitude, with one another. Donations of food will be collected for St. Vincent de Paul Pantry. Donations of money will be collected to support Transition Supper. Please see Advent flyer in vestibule and www.sipdx.org for full schedule of upcoming services and community events.
The intent of this feast is to reassure you and me that Christ is in charge, Christ is king, and Christ will re-member us. Among the terror and the tears, Christ will have the last word and make good the final promise. And that final promise is paradise.
Advent with its readings from the gospel of Matthew begins next weekend. During Advent, I invite every-one to bring a canned good for the poor to Mass and put it in the basket in the sanctuary at the preparation of the gifts.
Fr. Craig Boly, S.J.
Attention Lectors: The new “Workbook for Lec-tors 2017” is available in the north sacristy and north hallway of the church. Please stop by and pick up your copy this week. If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Rollins at 503-
777-1491.
Friends of Trees Planting Event Join us on Saturday, December 10 at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, (5329 SE Woodstock Blvd, 97206) from 9:00AM-1:00PM. We will plant trees that provide environmental and social benefits while coming together with our Parish community. Friends of Trees provide gloves, tools, and breakfast so all you need to do is show up dressed for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Their neighborhood volunteers will also provide a potluck lunch for all volun-teers after the planting is complete! RSVP for this and other upcoming events and find more information online at http://www.sipdx.org/upcoming-ecojustice-events. Contact Tyler Wagner at [email protected] or 503-777-1491 x237 with questions
Red Cross Blood Drive 9AM-2PM in Dillon Hall
Cathol ic Campaign for Human Development
The collection for Catholic Campaign for Human Development will be held the weekend of December 3-4th. CCHD funds pro-grams in Oregon and across the United States where people living in poverty join together to identify problems, make decisions, and find ways to improve their lives and neighborhoods. These groups and activities reflect Catholic moral and social teaching on human life and dignity. CCHD funds are working in our own SE neighborhood, building jobs and community. One mile from St Ignatius is the Portland Mercado, which received CCHD grants and support. Mercado vendor, Tierra del Sol will sell tamales to be delivered after the 10:30AM Mass on December 4th. Order forms are located in the vestibule and are due by Wednesday, November 30th. Please remember to bring your reusable travel container to pick up your order to reduce waste. Call Claire Burt for more information: 503 231-8220
Preparing for Advent as a Community
All parishioners are invited to attend our Advent Gathering on Sunday, Nov. 27th from 11:45AM - 2:00PM in Dillon Hall. We will have lunch, wreath-
making (traditional wreaths or options with an eco-
friendly twist), activities for kids, and resources to help us reflect on the meaning of the Advent season. We also welcome your participation in making this event a success. Lunch will be prepared by Women’s Club. Please sign up online to help with an activity or contribute to the soup potluck: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e4dafaa28a1fa7-advent
In keeping with the presidential race this year, our second grad-ers wrote essays titled If I Were President. They drew pictures of themselves in the role of president. We would be lucky to have some of these students as president because some of the things they wrote as their goals included, “I would work for peace.” “I would take care of poor people.” “I would make sure everyone is safe.”
They believe their greatest challenges as president would include, “signing all the papers, making all the rules, taking care of the whole country.” Their work is on the bulletin board outside their classroom and many parents enjoyed reading it while they were at school for conferences last week.
Thank you to all our parishioners who joined us for Turkey Bingo. We had a great time. Wishing you a good weekend.
A full list of staff & council Members are located on
Our webpage at www.sipdx.org
Growing Together Nursery
Childcare is now available for children ages 6 months to 5 years for the 8:00AM and 10:30AM Masses and up to age 12 for other events. Please RSVP to Debbie Noonan at [email protected] no later than 48 hours before the event.
St. Ignatius Parish School
Moms’ Group Meetings
Sunday, Nov. 20th and Dec. 11th 9:15-10:15AM in the Par ish Dining Room.
St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Box Drive
SVdP is in need of the following items for their Christmas Box drive: Packaged crackers, packaged cookies, packaged breakfast cereals and ground coffee. Items can be brought to church and put in the SVdP basket during Mass or left on the table in the church's vestibule. Thank you for your donations! SvdP is also looking for drivers to deliver the Christmas boxes on Saturday, December 17th at 9:00 AM, meeting in Dillon Hall. If you can drive and deliver Christmas boxes, please RSVP by contacting Bridget at 503-786-0555 or email: [email protected]
