From the Pastors Desk- Jesus Christ the King will shepherd his flock and bring them back to his Father. The title of today’s feast emphasizes the kingship of Jesus. As we look at the prayers for this Mass, we find that Jesus is addressed as “King of the universe,” “King of creation,” and “universal King.” His kingdom is of “truth and life,” “holiness and grace,” and “justice, love and peace.” In what appears to be a contrast to the theme of kingship, the Scripture readings today focus on the image of Jesus as shepherd and the final judgment. This feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is a relatively recent addition to the liturgical calendar. It was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI in response to the growing trends of secularism and materialism. It is a reminder of the fundamental belief that Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, is the essential life-giving force that governs all creation both as king and as shepherd. The prophet Ezekiel wrote during the Babylonian exile approximately 600 years before the birth of Jesus. During the time of their oppression, he reminded the Israelites of God’s promise to save them. God will do this, not as a king or a great warrior, but rather as a gentle shepherd – one who will tend his flock and rescue them from all of the places where they were scattered. The strays, the injured and the sick will be looked after. God will judge between the rams and the goats, and the sleek and the strong will be destroyed. How can a shepherd do this? It can only come about when the shepherd is the Lord our God. Saint Paul begins his address to the Corinthians by reminding them that Christ has been raised from the dead. Because of this, all who fall asleep in Christ will also be raised from the dead at the end of time. When will this occur? No one knows the day or the hour. Saint Paul says that the final judgment will come when Christ has brought all power and sovereignty under his authority and destroyed death. Paul had good reason to address his message to the people at Corinth. Corinth was a bustling commercial center where just about anything could be bought or sold. For the Christians in Corinth, the temptation to fall back into their old ways was always present. Paul reminded them of their dignity as believers in the Risen Lord, and that they would be held accountable at the last judgment for the way they chose to live their lives. We return to the image of Jesus the shepherd in today’s Gospel. This time however, Jesus is seen as the shepherd who will separate the sheep from the goats at the last judgment. And how will he decide who will be chosen and who will be rejected? His answer is straightforward. Those who feed, clothe, give drink, welcome others and visit prisoners will be chosen. Those who fail to treat Jesus this way will cut themselves off from their relationship with God. Jesus presents this choice to each of us. How will we treat the least in our midst?
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 22:19:14 +0000
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