Today we reach the end of the Church’s liturgical year … the Feast of Christ the King. It is an opportunity for us to take a few minutes to reflect on just what kind of King Jesus was.
Often, when we think of the word King, it brings up certain images … Images of Rulers with power and wealth and opportunity. Images of privilege and pomp. And all too often, images of wars and armies.
Is that the image of King that Jesus would want to be associated with? I don’t think so.
Jesus came to reveal the very nature of God to us –and how did God’s nature become evident ?
Was it through displays of privilege and power? No. Gods nature became evident in the humility of a child born in a stable. Gods nature became evident in a human being who spent his time with the poor and needy, with those outcast and disparaged by the mainstream, with those that society saw as having little or no worth. Gods nature became evident in a man who traveled his world speaking NOT of power, control, or domination, but rather of love, humility and service to others
Is there a message here? I think so, and it is a profound message ….
You and I live in a world where people aspire to power and control. And if we are honest with ourselves, all too often we aspire to power and control too. Am I right, or am I right?
And yet, as disciples of Christ, we are called to live as Jesus did. To shun the trappings of power and control. To live our lives, to GIVE our lives, in the service of others.
Jesus’ criterion for being His disciple is very simple and very concrete. It’s all there in today’s Gospel ….
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.’
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.
Often, when we hear this parable, we see two groups. The one’s on the right, those who cared for the needs of others, and the ones on the left, those who ignored the needs of others.
But there is a third group.
It is those people who are in need. The Hungry. The Thirsty. The Stranger. The Naked. The Sick. the Prisoner. It is with this group that Jesus identified himself. And it is IN this group that we find Jesus. Born poor and helpless, born in need and died in need. He lived and moved and had His being in need. And on the Day of Judgement, we will discover him,
not on the left, or on the right, but in the heart of those who are in need. That’s where we will discover Him.
And that is that profound message in today’s Gospel, a message that we are challenged to incorporate into our very being …….
For how we treat others is the measure of how we treat Christ. How we treat others is how we treat Christ.
The Gospel calls us, not just to see others as Christ sees them, but to see Christ IN others,
for what we do to them, we do to Christ.
As disciples, you and I are called to see Jesus in all that we meet and especially those in whom we do not expect to find him .…
- In the damaged and hurting,
- In those hungering for affection but unable to reach out to others.
- In those thirsting for inner peace, but unable to find it.
- In those who are different from us, who may not share our values
- In those who are marginalized because of their viewpoints or orientation.
- In those who struggle with illness of the spirit and see themselves as worthless.
- In those imprisoned by fears, anxiety, guilt, depression, in a self-imposed solitary confinement, and dying of loneliness.
You see, the King we celebrate today does not call us to power or control over people. Rather, He calls us to let our hearts be filled with compassion, and to show our discipleship through our actions and our deeds.
For when we live our lives in service of others, when we see in others Christ’s presence, when we really understand that His kingdom is one of love, service, compassion and peace, then
we will truly be part of God’s kingdom, and celebrate him as Christ our King.