Solemnity of Christ the King Year A
First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12.15-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23
Second Reading: 1Cor 15:20-26.28
Gospel: Mathew 25:31-46
In the course of the liturgical year, we celebrated the mysteries of Christ who truly manifests himself in the rituals of the Church and through which the work of salvation is accomplished and draws us deeply into communion with him. At the close of the liturgical year, it is only fitting for the Church to gather around her Lord to celebrate his final triumph as king of the universe and to look forward with renewed hope to Christ’s coming again in glory to gather in the fruits of his redemption and reign as Lord forever. That is the meaning of the solemnity of Christ the King.
The of the three readings today offer us different aspects of the kingship of Christ. The first reading from the Book of Ezekiel Chapter 34 is a prophecy about the Good Shepherd. In the Old Testament, the prophets applied the title shepherd to the kings of Israel. But God is the Shepherd of Israel and Ezekiel uses the image of a shepherd to describe God’s love, tenderness and care of His people. He says, “I myself will look after and tend my sheep.” He will establish His kingdom, not by the power of a conqueror as the kings of this world do, but through the love, goodness and tenderness of a good shepherd. In contrast to the bad shepherds who scattered the flock and led the people into the disaster of exile, the Lord, the supreme shepherd will take over the reins of government, bring them back from exile, take care of the injured, rule his people and take them to the best pastures. Christ is the good shepherd who fulfils this prophecy. He exercises his kingship not like the kings of the world who make their power felt but by humble service, showing concern for the sick and weak, feeding, defending and saving the flock the Father entrusted to him. Humanity was wounded by sin and scattered abroad, far from God and his love, Jesus seeks us in a way only a good shepherd will do. And to lead us safely back to the love of the Father, he gave his own life.
The second reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians highlights Christ’s sovereign power over sin and death. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. But Christ has already defeated death by his resurrection from the dead. He lives to die no more and leads to eternal pastures, all those who follow Him.
The Gospel highlights another aspect of the kingship of Christ. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” In summary, he will come again as a judge to judge the living and the dead. The criteria for judgment will be simple acts of kindness we did or did not do toward a neighbor in need. ‘When I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Jesus himself is the one we feed in the hungry, welcome in the stranger, and visit in the sick and imprisoned.
The liturgy today challenges us to open our hearts to Jesus who wants to reign in our hearts and family. His kingdom will last forever, and he will lead to eternal life, those who love him and obey him.
Happy Feast of Christ the King,
Fr Chidi Onwuka m.ss.cc.