Read: 1 st Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12.15-17/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-2a.2b-3.5.6 (R.1) 2nd Reading: I Corinthians 15:20-26.28/Gospel Acclamation: Mk.11:9b.10a Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
Theme: Christ the King: The Judge who Saves the Charitable!
When we read Ezekiel 34:11-12.15-17, Prophet Ezekiel in the first reading says: “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and strong I will watch over; I will feed them in justice. As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, rams and he-goats” (Ez. 34:15-17). It is this idea of eschatological separation of sheep and goats that is highlighted in the Gospel too. Christ as King will judge between good and evil, righteous and sinful, and will separate us, some to eternal life (heaven) and others to eternal punishment (hell) based on the help we have given to our neighbours: food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, cloth to the naked, hospitality to the stranger, and our active presence with the sick and imprisoned (Cf. Mt. 25:31-46). God expect us to imitate his charity as a Good Shepherd.
Christ reigns supreme for he alone is our true and perfect shepherd (cf. Ps. 23). With him, we lack nothing. He alone is able to heal our shattered, tattered and scattered lives. He has the capacity to revive, restore, guide and help us to our destiny. With Christ, goodness and mercy surround us always such that, we lack nothing and our future is secure. In him, we are made alive after destroying every rule, authority and power as the second reading says (cf. I Cor. 15:22, 24). Therefore, we must choose Christ over and above all else, if we are to find eternal life. He is the true foundation, all else is sinking sand! All false foundations such as power, pleasure and possession will surely tumble down one day. They all have expiry dates. Only Christ, the All in All, will remain forever and ever!
Again, we need to surrender to Christ, our minds (the main battle ground), our wills (always at odds with the will of God), our hearts (which always deceive us, cf. Jer. 17:9) and our bodies (which always crave for sin). In this regard, Pope Pius XI says: “If to Christ our Lord is given all power in heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by his precious blood, are by a new right subjected to his dominion; if this power embraces all men, it must be clear that not one of our faculties is exempt from his empire. He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls…” (Quas Primas, no. 33).
Beloved in Christ, many things seek to control our lives for the worse: money, power, anger, sex, hatred, fear, pride, smart phone, internet, alcohol, narcotics, etc. When sin controls our lives, not only does it enslave us but also severs our spiritual umbilical cord from God. There is a story of a former addict who with very good intentions and promising future made effort to stop doing drugs. Initially, he found it tough, but with total surrender to Christ and psychological help, he has broken away freely from the bondage he found extremely difficult to break away. This is amazing grace! This is what Christ does for us: he saves us from sin and weakness and makes us victors enveloped in the power of the Holy Spirit. He fills us with love, so we can love one another in charity! As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, may Jesus take control of our lives, plans, businesses and projects. As we let go and let Christ, let us also remember that:
#Christ-The-Judge-Saves-The-Charitable# Happy Sunday and may God richly bless us!
By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp.
