Sunday, November 26, 2023
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34). These are the words of Jesus as He speaks of His second coming and the judgement of all peoples and nations. Father Jose Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, called these words the great promise of our faith. Imagine yourself standing before Jesus as He speaks these words to you.
Today we come to the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Next Sunday we begin the new year with the First Sunday in Advent. On the last Sunday of every liturgical year, the church celebrates the feast day of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the universe. This feast day was instituted by Pope Pius XI in the year 1925, because of the decline of the church’s influence in Europe and increase in militantly secularistic regimes taking hold around the world. It is meant as a reminder that Christ’s reign is over the universe and is forever. While Jesus’ reign is over the entire universe, we have to invite Him to come into our lives and reign over our hearts. Remember the image from Revelation of Jesus standing at the door and knocking.
Almost 100 years later and perhaps more than ever, the state of our world is disheartening and can be discouraging. We feel helpless as we see and hear of many people living in poverty, homelessness, suffering and dying from violence and military conflicts. What can we do to raise our brothers up? Can we as Christians influence change for better outcomes for all of God’s children everywhere? Seems like it would take extraordinary feats yet in today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to do the simple things: feed the hungry, welcome the migrant, clothe the poor, and care for the sick. These are not overwhelming or superhuman feats, they are simple works of mercy that Jesus calls us to do. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40).
Saint Paul speaking of Christ wrote: “He is the head of the body, the church.” (Colossians 1:18). We are one body and Christ’s hands and feet. When we serve the least of our brothers, we serve Christ. Conversely, when we fail to care for the least of our brothers, we fail to serve Christ. “As a corporal work of mercy, care for our common home requires simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness and makes itself felt in every action that seeks to build a better world.” (Pope Francis). Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the prisoners, bury the dead, give alms to the poor.
What can you do this week at work, standing in line at the store, or walking on the way back home to have an encounter with Jesus? Can you deliberately look at people and see Jesus in them?
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.