JESUS CHRIST, THE KING ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Sunday, 26th November 2017.

Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17;

Ps 22: 1-3, 5-6;

1 Cor 15: 20-26, 28;

Mt 25: 31-46.

JESUS CHRIST, THE KING

The Scripture readings today give us beautiful selections on Christ as King. The first reading must be understood against God's condemnation of the kings of Israel, the shepherds of Israel, whose unfaithfulness to God and self-interests landed the people in exile in Babylon. After condemning them, God promises that He himself will assume the role of the shepherd for His people of Israel; He will gather them from wherever they are scattered, take care of the weak and He will pasture them. Therefore, God's promise of He becoming the Divine shepherd was completely fulfilled in His own Divine Son, Jesus Christ who was the descendant of David. In the second reading, Paul first compares Adam with Christ. Jesus the new Adam brought life to all of creation by His death and resurrection. By virtue of his resurrection to life and ascension, He becomes the King to reign. Christ will hand over the Kingdom to God His Father who will be all in all. In the Gospel, we are taken to the moment of judgment. The Lord Jesus is presented as Judge. We will be judged at the end of life on how well we serve Christ the King in the least of our brothers and sisters. Our judgment will be delivered on the basis of our response to the Church and its proclamation of the gospel. "Come, you who are blessed by my Father" implies that through God’s blessing we do not simply do "good deeds" but "righteous deeds," deeds fulfilling the will of the Father. This brings us thus the mercy of God.

There is a Irish legend dating back to the time when kings ruled Ireland. The reigning king had no children to succeed him on the throne. So he had his messengers post signs in every town and village of his kingdom inviting qualified young men to apply for an interview with the king. Two qualifications were needed: the person must have deep love for God and for his neighbour.

One young man saw one of the signs. He indeed had a deep love for God and neighbour. But he was so poor that he didn’t have decent clothes to wear for an interview, and no money to buy enough provisions for the long journey to the king’s castle. He decided to beg for the clothes and provisions he needed. When everything was ready, he set out. After almost a month of travel, he caught sight of the king’s castle. At about the same time, he also caught sight of a poor old beggar sitting by the side of the road. The beggar held out his hands and pleaded for help. “I am hungry and feeling cold” he said in a shivering voice, “Could you give me something to eat and something warm to wear?” The young man was moved by the sight of the beggar. He stripped off his warm outer clothes and exchanged them for the tattered old coat of the beggar. He also gave the beggar most of the provisions he had been carrying in his backpack for the return journey. Then somewhat uncomfortably, he walked on to the castle in tattered clothes. When he arrived at the castle, the guards took him to the visitors’ area. After a long wait he was led in to see the king. He bowed low before the throne and when he straightened up, he could hardly believe his eyes. He said to the king, “You were the beggar beside the road!” “That’s right” said the king, “I had to find out if you really loved God and neighbour”. This story points to today’s liturgy. The image of the king that we have in the readings of today is that of a shepherd and judge. Jesus Christ the Universal King is one who shepherds as well as judges the sheep of his flock. As God speaks through Prophet Ezekiel in the first reading of today, he is a Shepherd who searches for his sheep, seeks them out when they are scattered abroad, rescues them on a day of clouds and thick darkness, makes them lie down, brings back the strayed and lost, binds up the crippled, strengthens the weak, watches over the fat and the strong and feeds them in justice. As he is the shepherd, the psalmist takes refuge in him when he says: The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want for fresh and green pastures are guaranteed with good repose. Our King is a loving King, He loves us to the point that he is willing to give away his glory to save us from our bondage to sin. The truth he witnesses to is Love. He is the Alpha and Omega of Love. From Him begins love and also through Him love finds completion.

Reflect, today, upon your own embrace of Christ as King. Does He truly govern your life in every way? Do you allow Him to have complete control over your life? When this is done freely and completely, the Kingdom of God is established in your life. Let Him reign so that you can be converted and, through you, others can come to know Him as Lord of all! As subjects of Christ the King let us remember that at the end of our life, we will be judged on love alone. So let us belong to his Kingdom of Love.

Prayer: Lord, You are the sovereign King of the Universe. You are Lord of all. Come reign in my life and make my soul Your holy dwelling place. Lord, come transform our world and make it a place of true peace and justice. May Your Kingdom come! Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.