Heirs to the Throne
Some messages are so loud and clear that we can’t forget them. They resonate deep within us. At that point, if the message is one of Truth, then it’s likely that the Holy Spirit is guiding the message further and further within us. A little over four years ago, I heard one of those messages, along with other Confirmation parents, students, and guests.
On October 22, 2017 (the feast day of St. John Paul II!), my son was part of a beautiful class of 59 students who were ready to be confirmed. Bishop Jenky was unable to be the Celebrant that day, so he sent Monsignor Nolan to St. Mary’s. While we missed Bishop Jenky, we were given the gift of Msgr. Nolan’s presence. (Unfortunately, this Confirmation day took place before our current livestream era, so we must rely on written and oral history of the day!) I can hardly come close to doing it justice, but Msgr.’s message is worthy of sharing. Monsignor laid our individual relationship with God. Because we believe in God as our Father Almighty, He is King of heaven and earth. There is no one greater than Him. Given His kingship and fatherhood, and given our creation in His image and likeness, then that makes us sons and daughters of the King…which ultimately gives us the title of princes and princesses. The way Msgr. presented that simple but symbolic lineage made each one of those Confirmation students feel like royalty that day. I think he even made mention to envisioning crowns on each one of the students’ heads as he looked out at them.
I believe everyone hears what they need to hear from a message at Mass or a speaker at church. The Holy Spirit has a way of taking human words and divinely translating them for each of us. However, on that Confirmation day, we all heard the resounding message that we are heirs to the throne of heaven. We all had a place reserved for us. While we live in the moment, we were made for the eternal.
St. Paul wrote to the Romans, The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:16-17).
And when Msgr. Nolan asked those 59 young adults to stand up, turn around, and face the members of the church, it was so powerful. It was like these young adults, who were about to be even more equipped with Holy Spirit, were standing up and ready to face the world with their intensified gifts and knowledge of their inheritance.
On that day, my son and his classmates were confirmed with the Holy Spirit, but I was affirmed my place as an heir to the throne. Bishop Tylka will be celebrating with St. Mary's Confirmation students this Sunday. May all those students and each of you be reminded of your royal lineage and the great hope and eternal inheritance that comes with that.
