Reign Through Service: The Wind That Strengthens Our Roots

About this sermon

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030426.cfm Father Tyler Mentzer, MIC, invites us to contemplate what it truly means to “reign with Christ.” He opens with a striking analogy: a modern “geodome” that creates a flawless, wind‑less environment for trees. In that artificial sanctuary, the trees flourish at first, but their roots remain shallow. Without needing to withstand the wind, the trees become top‑heavy. Their fragile roots cannot anchor them, and they eventually topple. Father Tyler draws a parallel between those fragile trees and a life that lacks adversity. When we seek a perfect, trouble‑free existence, we attempt to eliminate the “wind” that deepens and strengthens our spiritual roots. The Gospel warns us that greatness in the Kingdom is measured, not by position, but by humble service. Jesus tells the disciples that the first shall be the greatest only when he becomes everyone else’s servant. Father Tyler reminds us that the very trials Jesus endured — 40 days in the desert; the temptations of Satan; the agony of the Cross — were the winds that proved His unshakable love for the Father. Likewise, the request of James and John to sit at Christ’s right and left reveals a self‑inflated desire for power. Jesus redirects them, teaching that true headship is found in laying down one’s life for others, echoing the servant leadership modeled at the Last Supper when He washed His disciples’ feet. In our own lives, the “wind” can be professional setbacks, relational conflicts, or the quiet suffering of daily duties. When we meet these challenges with faith, we are compelled to deepen our roots in the Father’s love, allowing the Holy Spirit to strengthen us from within. The Sacraments — especially Confession, Baptism, and the Eucharist — provide the nourishment that sustains us through the storm, reminding us that we are already participants in Christ’s reign when we serve selflessly. Father Tyler urges us to ask: Do I seek the comfort of a wind‑less dome, or do I welcome the gusts that shape my character? By choosing to serve, to love, and to sacrifice, we already reign with Christ, even if the world does not notice. At the final judgment, the Church teaches that we will be judged by the depth of our love of God and neigbor—; that is, by how far we have sunk our roots into the Father’s boundless mercy.

Topics

• Service & Ministry