Gospel: Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King, which marks the end of the liturgical calendar. The Year A readings will conclude with a passage from the Gospel according to St Matthew.

"When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by his angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.

All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from the another as the shepherd separates sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.'

'For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, in prison and you came to see me.'

Then the upright will say to him in reply, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?'

When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothed you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?' 

And the King will answer, 'In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least brother of mine, you did it to me.'

Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'

'For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink, I was a stanger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.'

Then it will be their turn to ask, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?'

Then he will answer, 'In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.'

And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life."

Today's Gospel passage is the conclusion of Jesus' discourse with his disciples. It is about the end of time, the coming of the Son of Man, and the final judgment. We hear this description of the final judgment at the conclusion of the liturgical year, the Solemnity of Christ the King. In the context of St Matthew's Gospel, this reading might also be read as a conclusion of St Matthew's report on Jesus' life and ministry; the remaining chapters report the events of Jesus' Passion and Resurrection.

As we learn from the Gospel, Jesus identifies himself to the least of our brethren. What we do to the poor, to the sick, to the imprisoned, we are doing it to him. This reiterates our faith as a faith of action. In the final judgment, Christ will not ask us about our religiosity. He will ask us about our love for our neighbors. As professed Catholics and Christians, our prayers and adoration must extend to helping one another, encouraging the lonely, visiting those who were neglected and welcoming Jesus in our hearts. We must open our minds and our hearts to the kingship of Jesus and celebrate his life and how he lived it. He showed us that the immediate consequence of loving God is through our service to others. We must love our neighbor with an open heart, ready to dwell on the reign of Jesus with kindness, peace, and generosity.

Today, as we are led to the procession of the Blessed Sacrament, may we be reminded that the only way that Christ might reign in our lives is through unselfish love, a life dedicated to the service of humanity, and helping others in whatever way we can, according to the talents we have given.

Viva Cristo Rey!

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The Gospel is sponsored by Philippine Airlines.