Sunday Reflection – 26 November 2023

Christ the King Solemnity (Thirty-Fourth and Last Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Also Read: Mass Readings for 26 November 2023 Homily for 26 November 2023 – Sunday

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

Hear the drum rolls!

I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. (16)

The King who seeks his lost, strayed, and injured ones; gathers them, binds and heals them, and strengthens them! What an amazing King God we have! Let him not find us fat and strong or hard-hearted and stubborn.

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Heb. 3:15) The Lord is our shepherd and he makes us lie down in green pastures!

Amen! Thank You, Lord God!

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23: 1-3, 5, 6

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; (1-2)

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. (6)

Alleluia, Amen!

Second Reading: First Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28

Thy Kingdom Come!

Then comes the end, when Christ Jesus hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (23-26)

On the Feast of Christ the King, the church reminds us that Jesus Christ still reigns! Until he “has put all his enemies under his feet”; Jesus Christ still reigns! We await his second coming when he will hand over the world to God the Father! Amen. Christ has already destroyed death; hence we are in the waiting period before his final arrival! On his second coming, he will save those who belong to him. How do we know that we belong to Christ? If we have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we belong to him!

But during this waiting period are we exchanging our birthright for the ‘red stuff’ of this world, like Esau? (Gen 25: 29 – 34) For us, the ‘red stuff’ could be our properties, wealth, physical looks, pride, greed, etc.  Are we being dulled and lulled into a stupor of worldliness and losing our way back to Christ? Are we faithful in the little talent that we may possess and produce kingdom-worthy fruit? Do we take pains to nurture our God-given talents, so that we could serve his church and his people here on earth? How prepared are we for him?

Let us introspect and prepare well for his second coming. Amen, Alleluia!

Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46

Kingdom Life on Earth!

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ (34 – 36)

 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (40)

While it is imperative to physically feed the hungry etc it is equally imperative to nourish the souls hungry for spiritual, emotional, and psychological food! Physical needs are easily spotted but not so the spiritual, emotional, or psychological ones! Being kind when we have the choice of being critical, being understanding instead of arguing, being humble instead of proud; can truly clothe a naked heart yearning for a warm hug! Forgiving someone instead of accusing them of petty things can surely set them free from prisons of fear and self-doubt.

As we go about trying to fulfill these commands of our Lord, we must also remember that he told us how we are to perform these duties! “But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Mt. 6:3-4) The moment we publicize our ‘charity’ we lose its value because then we do it for personal gain. If anyone has a truly generous heart, they have been blessed by God our Father!

Let us strive to be worthy sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ Our King! Amen, Amen, Amen!