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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As a 10-year-old, Sister Marilyn of the Sisters of Mary watched her father murdered by family friends—then grabbed his gun to take revenge and had her finger on the trigger.

Something stopped her in that moment, but the trauma of that experience hardened her heart with thoughts of anger and revenge. She felt like a failure and couldn't trust anyone.

In front of the Blessed Sacrament years later, Jesus met her in that memory…and turned a would-be taker of life into a spiritual mother who gives life to thousands of the poorest children on earth. She found her vocation and the Lord miraculously healed her wounds.

In this powerful conversation, we talk about trauma, forgiveness, Eucharistic healing, and the Sisters of Mary’s mission to the poorest of the poor around the world.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
1:35 Sisters of Mary: “Sisters and Mothers”
5:19 The day her father was killed
12:10 Running for the gun… and why she didn’t pull the trigger
16:00 The hidden lie: “I’m a loser”
18:10 A priest’s counsel that opened the door to healing
24:10 Adoration: meeting Jesus inside the memory
26:50 From taking life → giving life: discovering her vocation
33:05 Saying the killer’s name before Jesus—and forgiving
39:00 The Sisters of Mary across 7 countries
41:15 “The poorest of the poor” (more than material poverty)
49:45 A student’s story: “Why do I feel nobody loves me?”
53:40 Final encouragement: your wounds can become windows to God

Whatever you've gone through, the Lord is ready to heal you. In all things, God works for the good of those who love him. Pursue his grace in the sacraments. Bring your trauma to the foot of the cross and spend time in Adoration. The Resurrection is on the other side of your trauma. You are not alone.

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Learn more about the Sisters of Mary: https://worldvillages.org/sisters-of-mary/

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Are you afraid it will get instantly awkward around the water cooler if you mention Jesus or talk about your faith?

Yeah, it might. And Jesus told us it would be this way! His message is uncomfortable because he claims divinity. If he is who he said he was, then it has to change everything. We have to change EVERYTHING about the way we are living. And a lot of people don't want to do that.

But you know what we should fear more than an awkward silence? Denying Christ...or depriving others of the chance to know and love the Lord because of our lack of an invitation. We should care about other people's souls!

Evangelization is not easy. There are countless martyred saints who gave their lives while proclaiming Christ to people who didn't want to hear it.

But you have so many opportunities to share the hope of our faith with other people in your every day life. Don't be a sissy when it comes to sharing your faith. Risk the awkwardness. Be yourself. Lead with love. You might save someone's life.

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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to Poland and Prague: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/12693/

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Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW