Identity: Beloved Before Performance

In this on-the-road Sunday Reflection, I'm talking about the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (how's that for a title?!) along with Fr. Burke Masters of St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Hinsdale, Illinois, where we held a sold-out REBOOT event a couple weeks ago.

Jesus is king. Full stop.

And it's not the typical kind of kingship. He doesn't take more when he has everything. He gives more when he has nothing left. In today's Gospel, Jesus is literally about to die and he is promising eternal life to a criminal hanging on a cross next to him.

When you are hanging on the cross of your own struggles, do you trust in the Lord's kingship? He's right there with you...offering you so much more than your current circumstances.

If you make him the center of your life, he will transform you in every way and you can live out your royal identity through him—even when you are at your weariest or most broken.

But we can't let other distractions and "priorities" take his throne.

In his youth, Fr. Burke Masters was obsessed with baseball—and he was good at it. He hit a game-winning grand slam to send his team to the College World Series!

But eventually he converted to Catholicism and realized that God, not sports, should be at the center. In this video, he shares his beautiful vocation story that took him from the baseball diamond to the priesthood—and back again. In addition to being pastor of a thriving parish outside Chicago, he serves as chaplain for the Chicago Cubs!

You never know what path God has in store for you, but he is lifting you up on that journey. Be sure you are lifting him up as your king, too.

Timecodes
0:00 Christ the King: a different kind of royalty
1:03 Jesus gives more when He has nothing left
2:35 When you feel drained, that’s your time to shine
4:36 Fr. Burke Masters: from baseball dreams to priesthood
6:03 Putting God first (even above sports)
8:20 The danger of making anything else your “god”
10:10 The prince who forgot he was royalty

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Who or what is most likely to become a “false king” in your life?
2. Think of a time when you felt drained, discouraged, or “empty.” Looking back, how did God meet you in that weakness?
3. Jesus shows kingship not by taking but by giving when he has nothing left. How does this challenge your idea of what power, success, or dignity looks like? Where might Christ be calling you to give more?
4. Fr. Burke Masters gave up baseball for God—and God gave him something better. Have you ever experienced God returning something you surrendered to Him in a transformed way? If not, where might God be asking you to trust Him like that?
5. Who in your life models “royal dignity” in Christ—even in suffering? What's one practical way you can proclaim Christ as king in your life this week? It could be a prayer, a sacrifice, giving up a habit, or something you stop giving power to.

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