CHRIST THE KING OF THE VIRTUOUS
The Christian life is all about whatever we do or fail to do to the least of our needy brothers and sisters. Hence, God in Christ is the king of the virtuous. It is amazing how we are to be judged by God at the end of our lives. It is not by our knowledge of the bible, theological dogmas or doctrines. It is not by our observances of rules, regulations or commandments. It is not by the projects buildings or work we have done for God or in the name of God. It is not by the beautiful or melodically liturgies we have celebrated for or with God.
It is simply by the qualities of our treats of our brothers and sisters in need. It is how we treat the poor, the less privileged, the vulnerable and abused among us.
OUR THEME
It is a feast on which to renew our loyalty to Jesus our Saviour, our Lord and our King. The universal acclaimed Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. However, Christ the King of our lives cannot reign anywhere today more than in our hearts. The heart that lives with empathetic love towards the needy, poor, sick, foreigners, prisoners, oppressed, abandoned, lonely marginalized, immigrants, naked, hungry, or thirsty. Equally, those abused sexually, economically, culturally, socially, emotionally and authoritatively in families, societies, religious institutions and churches.
FIRST READING: EZEKIEL 34:11-12, 15-17
God through Prophet Ezekiel consoled the Jews exiled in Babylonia. Their exile which had been caused by infidelity and disloyalty to God on the part of their Kings and religious leaders who used their power and authority to exalt themselves. As well as misleading the people to follow them. However, He did assure them of being an eternal shepherd to his sheep. Leading them to green and good pasture, caring for them and protecting them against bad and abusive shepherds who feed on them and take advantage of them.
Here, there is a clear distinction between the kingship of God and the human kingship. It is also a fulfilment of the gospel text of today: the judgment call on Christian behavioural pattern.
Psalm 23, one of the coolest psalms of God as our shepherd reminds us that with God on our side providence, protection and blessedness are ours. We shall not lack anything in our lives. God Kingship is one of abundance, peace, security and prosperity, something worldly kings and rulers can never give us.
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-26, 28
St. Paul presents the eschatological vision of Christ reign as Universal King of the all. A King that overcomes all powers, rulers, principalities, evil, sins and even death, the last enemy of man. This universal sovereignty of Christ is above everything and yet summits everything in Christ Jesus to God. Where God will be everything to everyone. The virtuous lives in eternal of victory with Christ, king of the virtuous.
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 25:31-46
St. Matthew´s account of the judgement day emphasis ends part of the Prophecy of Ezekiel in the first reading of today. Where our behavioural attitude towards one another is called to question and scrutiny.
THE IMAGERY OF SHEEP AND GOAT
The imagery of this parable of the final judgment is one of sheep and goat. Where the sheep represents the righteous and the goat, the wicked. This imagery of the sheep and the goat did not come as an accident. It stems from the basic qualities or characteristics of these two animals. The sheep is a docile, submissive and obedient animal who follows the shepherd.
Hence, it is used to depict the blessed or gifted of God for eternal life. While on the other hand, the goat is an animal known for its stubbornness, disobedient and prideful with no need for a shepherd or a pastoral guide. There is the wicked or cursed who rebel against God like the devil and his fallen angels.
JUDGMENT IN LITTLE BUT SIGNIFICANT THINGS
Matthew´s articulation of the eschatological judgement at the end of time. When Christ Jesus will come as the sovereign King of all is a paradigm shift in living the Christian life.
1. Our judgment is based more on the sin of omission than the sin of commission with emphasis on the practice of the corporal works of mercy. This implies our negligence to love, serve or help others is worse in God´s sight.
2. It also means that any act of charity done to the poor, needy and disadvantaged is charity done to Christ himself. This is because of the Christian spirituality of the poor and needy as members of the mystical body of Christ: the Church.
3. Invariably, the Christian faith and the Church´s life is one caring for the poor and needy as that is the care of Christ’s body too.
4. There will be a judgment over us at the end of our life on earth. A judgment not based on our observances of rules, regulations and laws but one how well we treat others in life.
5. The lesson of the parable is crystal clear–that God will judge us following our reaction to human need. His judgment does not depend on the knowledge we have amassed, or the fame that we have acquired, or the fortune that we have gained, the time and effort we spend in the church, splendour or beauty of our liturgical celebrations but on the help that we have given.
6. These bits of help are not in complicated things but in simple things like giving a hungry man a meal, or a thirsty man a drink, or welcoming a stranger, immigrants. It is in cheering the sick, depressed and afflicted, visiting the prisoner, the lonely, or the abandoned. A heartily smile share with the saddened, a lovely thought towards others, some kind words about others or an empathetic connection to the needy–are things which anyone can do. It is not a question of giving away thousands of money, or of writing our names in the annals of history. It is a case of giving simple help to the people we meet every day.
HELP FOR HELP SAKE NOT FOR CAMERA OR SOCIAL MEDIA
7. It is not a calculated help to boost notice-me or eye-service mentality for fame, promotion, camera or social media. It is an uncalculating help or assistance for shared humanity and unknowing done to Christ in our brothers and sisters.
8. Help given for the sake of praises, appreciations and publicity is not to help at all. It is a pander to self-esteem or robbing one´s ego. True help comes from a generosity of heart move by genuine empathy to feel, to connect and to relate the life and conditions of the needy without any ulterior motives.
9. Jesus confronts us with the wonderful truth that all help given to a needy brother or sister is given to Him. At the same time, the hardest truth that all such help withheld is withheld from Him. How can that be? Analogically, the best way to gladden the heart of a mother or a father is to help their Christian. In like manner, the best way to help God Our Father and Christ Our King is to help our fellow brothers and sisters.
10. Finally, judgment in the Christian faith and life is decided and the principle or doctrine by which we live our lives. Failure to love the poor or the needy is a failure to love God or Christ too.
God´s kingdom is a kingdom of abundance and providence to all. However, it is a kingdom of co-responsibility to care for each other in Christ Jesus too. It is a Kingdom of love, joy, peace, happiness, justice, truth, and goodness among us.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the virtuous who will come at the end of time to judge us all. Help us to be conscious that the little significant help we render to our needy brothers and sisters, it is to you we render them as well. May we always see and help you in the lonely, abandoned, oppressed, depressed, abused, poor, thirsty, hungry, naked, immigrants, sick, aged and needy. May Christ the King reigns always in our lives, hearts and Church. Amen
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