Father at Law @ Living Exponentially / Blue Water Healthy Living

 Video interview on Living Exponentially with Eileen Tesch.

Solemnity of Jesus Christ King of the Universe @ Ss. Francis and Clare, Birch Run, MI

There is a current among historians that on several occasions have asked the question:

What if George Washington had been the first King of America, instead of the first President?

Recently, an online researcher from Ancestry dot Com took the challenge, and began the process of attempting to trace the would-be royal lineage back over two centuries.

It’s not easy being king.

And it’s also not too easy to figure out just who would be king.

Royal succession is in itself difficult to determine because of the variations that exist in passing on the crown. For example, does the throne go only to male successors? Or in an enlightened society, should women be included in the royal succession? Is this mythical monarchy a patrilineal – only through the father’s side, or is it bilineal?

Add to that what is probably the most apparent difficulty – namely, that George and Martha Washington had no children.

Tracing the line back through every possible family permutation yielded various claimants to the throne over the last two centuries who would have been the kings: Lee, Bushrod, and Spotswood. Not to mention the queens: Estella, Odelle, and Brynda.

After much time and research, the most likely royal successor was finally determined to be Paul Emery Washington. He was born in Texas in 1927, served in the US Navy, and worked until his retirement for a supply company – which interestingly was based out of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. During his retirement he volunteered at San Antonio Zoo, and was active in the community.

But since that article was written, I have some sad news: His Royal Highness, Paul I, has gone on to his eternal reward. And so, it would seem, the hypothetical throne of America is once again up for grabs.

Today we celebrate the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, known as The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The feast was originally put forth by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to growing secularism and nationalism after the First World War.

And while the Scripture readings may lead our minds to the eschaton – that is, the end of time – the emphasis of this feast day is on the here- and-now. Writing in 1925, the pope stated that for all of us, Jesus Christ must reign in our minds ... in our wills ... in our hearts ... and in our bodies.

Christ’s reign is not some distant event ... rather, we must work to make it a reality every day by our own willingness to allow Him into our lives.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ ... let us pray for a deeper openness to God’s grace ... so that we might truly allow Christ to be *our* King.

May we surrender ourselves totally to His reign ... so that His kingdom may come ... on earth ... as in heaven ... through us living out our lives ... every day ... for Jesus Christ ... in all that we say and do.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time @ Ss. Francis and Clare, Birch Run, MI

Howard William Osterkamp from Dent, Ohio served for nine months of his two-years of service on the 38th parallel in Korea with C Company, 5th Regimental Combat Team.About half-way through those nine months, he was wounded in the leg with schrapnel, and suffered two breaks in his leg, but this was misdiagnosed by Army doctors, and he was returned to the front lines for four more months.

Osterkamp is credited with originating the phrase: “All gave some; some gave all.”

This weekend we celebrate Veteran’s Day – which originated as Armistice Day 105 years ago at the end of the First World War – commemorating the signing of the armistice at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

That day is also the memorial of St. Martin of Tours, who originally was a military man from a military family, and lived in the fourth century.

Pious legend tells us that Martin, seeing a poor beggar in the cold, took his sword and cut his own military cloak in half – sharing it with the shivering man. That night he had a dream where Christ appeared and repeated that well-known phrase from the Gospels “what you did for this the least of my brethren, you did for me.” And upon waking up, Martin saw that his cloak was no longer half, but restored to 100%.

This led to his conversion, and eventually becoming a bishop in France.

Interestingly, the word “chapel” come from the French word for cloak or cape … and refer to the small buildings in villages where St. Martin’s cloak would be displayed for prayer; and to the clergy, the “chaplains” who attended to the cloak as it travelled from place to place.

Today is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. And today is our parish memorial weekend.

We remember 19 people who died over the past year, ranging in age from a few weeks to over 100 years old.

As Jesus says at the end of today’s Gospel: “you know neither the day nor the hour.”

During the month of November, the Church calls us to reflect on our own mortality by remembering in prayer those who have gone before us. Indeed, “the souls of the just are in the hands of God,” and that, too, should include us. 

When we pray for the souls of the Faithful Departed, we do a good and just thing, knowing that when our day or hour should come, we can count on our family and friends to remember us in prayer when we have gone on to the Lord.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ; let us place within His hands the souls of all the faithful departed … those from the past year, and every year. And in honor of Veteran’s Day, let us remember those who died in service to our great nation as well. 

Eternal rest …