Seek First the Kingdom of God
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
“The Lord is king; He is robed in majesty.”Ps. 93
Let Him reign in your life, in your mind, heart, and strength, in your family, in your work, in your relationships, in your time, in your relaxation, in your hobbies, in your decisions… By obeying Jesus, we are truly His disciples—those who listen to Him, trust in Him, and follow Him. Only by doing so can we benefit from His wisdom, His way, His truth, His healing, and His divine life. If we ignore Him, we do not follow Him, and we remain lost in our selfish disorder, in our clumsiness and darkness, depriving ourselves of the greatest gift Christ came to make available to us.
We are told:
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and the righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”Matthew 6:33
This is what the Christian life is about: letting Jesus reign in my life—in all the areas mentioned above. It means guarding the life of the soul, spiritual health, and fundamental values, to live in a Kingdom of love, joy, peace, kindness, and other fruits that Christ wants everyone to see clearly in you.
Only by doing so can we be a blessing to others and bring Christ into the world, allowing Him to continue loving and working through us as He desires. This is what it means to be prepared to die, to have eternal life, and to be ready for His second coming. How is this done in everyday life? How can we put spiritual values before material ones? Always choose to attend a retreat rather than simply going on an outing; go to Mass before anything else. Choose to do good for someone who needs you, rather than passing by for something less important.
We must love the truth and defend it at all costs, recognizing and immediately rejecting the deceits of the evil one. Do not give ear to foolish voices, whether they come from outside, from another person, or from your own mind. Turn a deaf ear, as we want the voice of our Good Shepherd to prevail always-the only voice that leads us to green pastures and peaceful waters, giving us the fruits of the Spirit that we would not want to lose for anything in the world.
Always prioritize the values of the gospel, the spiritual and eternal over the material and temporary. A good deed that earns you treasures in heaven is worth more than a high salary if it only serves to inflate your ego, making you feel like the owner and lord of things instead of a steward who offers help to those in need, thus practicing the charity that truly enriches you.
Letting Jesus reign means allowing Him to guide us always and in everything; this will make us a source of love for everyone-friends and enemies alike. Guided by Christ, we can love as He loves, even sinners. This is the fruit of the Spirit and the living experience of the Kingdom of God, something that no Christian should be without.
St. Andrew of Crete
St. Andrew of Crete was born in Damascus and was mute until he received his First Communion at age 7. He went on to be an influential archbishop and hymnist in Crete. His most renowned work, the Great Canon, is chanted during Lent in Eastern Orthodox churches.
Weekly Readings
Sunday: Dn 7:13-14/Ps 91:1, 1-2, 5 (1a)/Rv 1:5-8/Jn 18:33b-37
Monday: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5/Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6/Lk 21:1-4
Tuesday: Rv 14:14-19/Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13/Lk 21:5-11
Wednesday: Rv 15:1-4/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9/Lk 21:12-19
Thursday: Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a/Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5/Lk 21:20-28
Friday: Rv 20:1-4, 11-21:2/Ps 84:3, 4, 5-бa and 8a/Lk 21:29-33
Saturday: Rom 10:9-18/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11/Mt 4:18-22
Next Sunday: Jer 33:14-16/Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (1b)/1 Thes 3:12-4:2/Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
Observances for the Week
Sunday: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Monday: St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr
Thursday: Thanksgiving Day
Saturday: St. Andrew, Apostle
Next Sunday: 1st Sunday of Advent
