DAILY- HOMILY

November 23, 2014

Sunday  33rd Week in Ordinary Time

[Solemnity, CHRIST THE KING]

Ez 14: 11-12, 15-17 / Ps 23: 1-2, 2-3, 5-6 (1) / 1 Cor 15: 20-26, 28 / Mt 25: 31- 46 

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17

Indeed Yahweh says this: "I myself will care for my sheep and watch over them. As the shepherd looks after his flock when he finds them scattered, so will I watch over my sheep and gather them from all the places where they were scattered in a time of cloud and fog. I myself will tend my sheep and let them rest, word of Yahweh. I will search for the lost and lead back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the fat and strong will be eliminated. I will shepherd my flock with justice. As for you, my flock - says Yahweh - I will distinguish between one sheep and another, and set apart rams and goats."

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26

Brothers and sisters: "Christ has been raised   from the dead and he comes before all those who have fallen asleep. A human being brought death; a human being also brings resurrection of the dead. All die for being Adam's, and in Christ all will receive life. However, each one in his own time: first, Christ, then Christ's people, when he visits them. Then the end will come, when Christ delivers the kingdom of God the Father, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power. For he must reign and put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death."

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory. All the nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. The King will say to those on his right: 'Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me.' Then the good people will ask him: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, or a stranger and welcome you or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to see you?' The King will answer, 'Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those on his left: 'Go, accursed people, out of my sight into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked and you did not clothe me;  I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' They, too, will ask: 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?' The King will answer them: 'Truly, I say to you: whatever you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not do for me.' "

Reflection:

     On the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The Church affirms our belief in the ultimate triumph and Glory of Christ our Lord who sits in power at the right hand of the Father.

     The first reading from Isaiah puts Christ's kingship and leadership in terms of the good shepherd watching over his flock. The good shepherd protects his flock and seeks the lost and strays; the good shepherd binds up the injured and strengthens the weak. The image and role of the good shepherd are maintained in the Church:  the bishop is shepherd of his diocese, of his flock. The bishop's crozier is the shepherd's staff reminding him of his role as shepherd and protector of his flock. The good shepherd seeks to increase his flock. Unlike the hired hand, he is willing to lay down his life to protect his flock. Priests at parishes assist and collaborate with the bishop in watching over Christ's flock. Religious, men and women, and lay people assist their bishops and priests, each one in different and unique ways.

     The Gospel reading pictures Christ the King as Judge of all mankind, separating the sheep from the goats, the good from the bad: and his judgment will be based on the commandment of love he gave to his disciples the night before he died. After he washed the feet of his disciples, he said: "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed  your feet, you must also wash one another's feet. I have just given you an example that as I have done, you also may do." And so at the last judgment the Son of Man will say to those on his right: "Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me."

Prayer Requests:

We pray ...

... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn

... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary

... for families who are in need of healing

... for world peace and reconciliation

... for the special intentions of Jennette Pe

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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