Christ: Ruling by Love, Not Force – Mar 04 – Homily – Fr Matthias

 

Fr Matthias gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 04, 2026, explaining how Jesus rules as King through love and suffering, inviting us to follow by meditating on His Passion, especially through the Rosary.

In this homily, Father shares that Jesus is a true King with real authority over us, but unlike earthly rulers who use force, He leads by loving us first so we love Him in return. He connects this to the Gospel where Jesus drinks the chalice of suffering on the cross, showing His kingship through sacrifice. Just as parents model actions for children, Jesus suffers first to motivate us to share in His chalice. Father stresses contemplating the Passion and Crucifixion to draw us into that love, and highlights the Rosary as a powerful way to meditate on Jesus' joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries. He quotes Popes Pius XII and Benedict XVI on how pondering Christ's life with Mary impels us to follow Him.

Matthew 20:25 - Rulers lord over subjects - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20?25
John 19:19 - Jesus King of Jews - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?19
Mark 10:39 - Drink chalice together - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/10?39
CCC 520 - Christ reveals kingship - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p3.htm#520
CCC 559 - Jesus' authority through love - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p122a3p3.htm#559
CCC 971 - Mary's role in mysteries - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p6.htm#971
Rosary - Meditating Christ's life - https://www.vatican.va/special/rosary/documents/misteri_en.html
Pius XII on reciting the Rosary - https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_15091951_ingruentium-malorum.html#:~:text=their%20own%20faith.-,9.%20And%20truly%2C,-from%20the%20frequent 
Benedict XVI on the Rosary - https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2008/october/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20081019_pompei.html#:~:text=Those%20who%2C%20like%20Mary

Ave Maria!

Mass: Wednesday 2nd Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030426.cfm
1st: Jeremiah 18:18-20
Resp: Psalms 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
Gsp: Matthew 20:17-28

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1748

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eOQQbvfNqJE