The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
My dad loved roasted cabrito (goat) so much that he became a regular at a local Mexican restaurant Friday night for a year. He also loved roasted leg of lamb, passing his love of both types of meat onto his children. Knowing that God loves all creation, I wondered why these two animals were chosen. Matured, the goat is woolly and gnarly, the sheep kind, gentle appearing.
Today, we celebrate the kingship of Christ and its importance in our lives. The gospel passage is the last in a series of teachings on the return of the risen Christ. The use of sheep and goats illuminates our readiness to enter the kingdom of heaven on judgment day. Christ is seated on his heavenly throne, acting as judge and shepherd, separating the worthy and righteous from wickedness and evil. He does not provide an answer but instead probes our hearts with a challenging teaching that comes down to our seeing his face in all humankind. Do you see the face of Jesus in others? One way to answer this question is to look at the corporal works of mercy: feeding the hungry, drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and imprisoned, burying the dead with dignity, and alms to the poor.
If the Eucharist is alive in our lives, it feeds us with the strength to see Jesus’ face in others, even those who get under our skin. In one day, the Eucharist will make you produce more for the glory of God than a whole lifetime without it. (Saint Peter Julian Eymard)
In the Eucharist, Jesus is our Shepherd, gathering, feeding, and finding us when we are lost.
On judgment day, will you be on the right or the left?
Closing Prayer:
The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment shall touch them. They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their king forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones and his care with his elect. (Wisdom 3:1; 8-9)
