A reminder that God must come first in our lives
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (November 22, 2020): EZ 34:11-12,15-17; PS 23:1-2,2-3,5-6; 1 COR 15:20-26,28; MT 25:31-46
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The Kingdom of God is one of love. We demonstrate our fitness to be part of it by the way we love Him. And that means caring for others, most especially those in greatest need..
Today we venerate our Lord Jesus Christ as King of the Universe. The Church first celebrated a feast in honor of Christ the King in the 1920s and, after the Second Vatican Council, it became fixed as the final Sunday of the liturgical year. It was originally designated in an effort to combat the spread of nationalism and secularism in many parts of the world. And it continues to remind us that God must come first in our lives. Nothing and no one can take precedence over our Savior, the Son of God. It is He who is the true ruler of our bodies and souls, our world and the entire universe. In the Gospel, we hear Jesus address His disciples about the Judgment of Nations or the Last Judgment. After telling them so often about the Kingdom of God, Christ now reveals what will happen when He arrives in glory at His Second Coming. He wants all to understand that we will be judged – and the basis of His decision. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, a stranger and you welcomed Me, in prison and you visited Me. … Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of My brothers of Mine, you did for Me’” (Matthew 25:34-36, 40).
The Kingdom of God is one of love. We demonstrate our fitness to be part of it by the way we love Him. And that means caring for others, most especially those in greatest need. Jesus tells us that the way we show mercy and generosity to our suffering brothers and sisters is completely personal to Him. Whatever we do – or do not do – to ease their burdens we do for Him. The Kingdom of God already exists and we have the opportunity to choose to serve our King every day by reaching out to those the world considers “the least.” But the Kingdom will only have its true fulfillment at the end of time when the righteous will receive eternal life with God. And the others will not.
