Christ the King (A)

Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46

The final Sunday of the liturgical calendar marks the feast of Christ the King or Cristo Rey. The timing is intentional because the Church wishes to teach that at the end of time Jesus will be proclaimed once and for all as King of the entire universe. It was Pope Pius XI who introduced the feast into the liturgy in the year 1925.

The first reading shows what kind of king is our God. The prophet Ezekiel describes Yahweh as a good shepherd – caring (“I myself will look after my flock and guard them”), savior (“I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered”), healer (“I’ll bandage the wounded and make the weak strong”) and judge (“I will judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he-goats”). Then, Saint Paul, in the second reading, introduces Christ as the all-powerful One who conquered death and who will give eternal life to all those who believe in Him.

The gospel prophesizes what is going to happen during the final days. There will be a Judgment Day, the parable suggests, when Jesus sits on His throne as judge. He will judge each of us based on our acts of love and mercy for the poor and the needy. Accordingly, our salvation will depend on how we treated them – the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the naked, the sick and those in prison. Mother Teresa once said: “These people are hungry not only for bread but for love; naked not only of clothes but of dignity and respect; homeless not only for lack of shelter but for being abandoned. These people are Jesus in distressing disguise.”

This feast of Christ the King challenges us to do at least two things:

First is to make a sincere effort to find God in the faces of people who are suffering from pain, be it physical or emotional. The Christian challenge is to live in solidarity with those who suffer, like what Mother Teresa did to the sick and the dying. We can start doing this in our respective communities, families, schools, parishes, and places of work. Let us ask ourselves: Who are the people near us who suffer in silence? Who are our neighbors in great need of our presence and assistance?

Second is to use our individual capabilities and influence to serve our Lord and King. Let us ask ourselves: What have we done as government officials, priests, religious, lawyers, doctors, businessmen, teachers, or workers to help build the kingdom of God on earth? Have we used our knowledge and talents to serve the people of God or simply to boost our own egos?

If we have used our power and strength to help people in need  or to lighten the burdens of others, we can join with the whole Church today in proclaiming: Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! (Christ conquers! Christ rules! Christ reigns!)

A king with no heirs invited qualified young people to be interviewed, with a view to succeeding him. A poverty-stricken young man felt an inner call to apply. He worked day and night to buy provisions for the journey and clothes for the interview. After weeks of travel, he came to the king’s palace. Sitting at the entrance was a beggar in dirty rags, calling out, “Help me, my son!” Filled with pity, the young man gave the beggar his good clothes and the money he had saved for his return trip. Then, with fearful heart, he entered the palace. When he was escorted into the throne room, he was shocked. Seated on the throne was the beggar, wearing the clothes he had just given him. The king smiled and said, “Welcome, my son!”

(The story is told by Mark Link, S.J.)