KINGLY

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November 26, 2017
34th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First reading (Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17)
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 23:1-6) 
Second reading (1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28)
Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46)

We all want to be royals. Kings. Queens. Princes. Princesses. In our own lives, we want to be in control. We want to the best. But everyone who is best has an example, an adviser, a guide, an idol, an inspiration, a motivation.

In our celebration of Jesus Christ as King of the Universe this Sunday, let us fix our gaze on Jesus in our mass readings for inspiration on how to be good kings and queens, princes and princesses.

Our King is a caretaker. In our first reading (from the book of the prophet Ezekiel), we hear of the Lord God revealing himself as a shepherd that looks after His sheep. He looks after them. He finds the lost and nurses the sick back to health. As we strive to be kings and queens in our lives, when was the last time we looked after our brothers and sisters? When was the last time we thought of others besides ourselves? As royalties, let us strive to be caretakers. 

Our King is a conqueror, but not just any conqueror. Our King is not a just a conquerer of cities, nations and territories. In our second reading (from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians) Paul tells us that our king is a conqueror of sin, evil, death, suffering and of those who seek bring chaos and terror in the world. He conquered sin by dying on the cross. He conquered mockery by wearing the crown of thorns. He conquered evil by being merciful. When was the last time we have conquered the hearts of our brothers and sisters? Are we too busy in fighting for our greed that we forget to conquer our enemies by making them friends? As royalties, let us be conquerors. 

Our King is a judge. He does not simply judge others by their words. He judges them by their deeds. In our gospel (according to St. Matthew), Jesus tells His disciples of how he would judge the people -by their deeds. If people saw the poor, the hungry, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned, did they tend to their needs? Only by doing so can all they be judged as good, because Jesus said, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.' When have we become wise in our judgment of others? When have we seen good in them? Are we blinded by the goodness we wish to see in ourselves that we fail to see Jesus in our neighbors? 

If we wish to be kings and queens, princes and princesses, let us learn from the KING who rules them all, who rules us all. Let us be caretakers of one another. Let us be conquerors of evil in our hearts and conquerors of our neighbors' hearts. Let us be wise judges and see Jesus in others. Let us be Kingly like Jesus, our King.

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