Solemnity of Christ the King – Cycle A
Reflecting on Matthew 25:31-46
And so the year ends as it began. Last Advent we began this year of Matthew by reading the account of the angel who appeared to St. Joseph in a dream, telling him that Mary had conceived a child through the Holy Spirit. And this was to fulfill what the prophet Isaiah had spoken, that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, whose name would be Emmanuel, which means God with us.
And all year long Matthew told memories of Jesus that brought that truth home over and over again. The poor in spirit, the peacemakers, those who mourn—God is with them! Those who ask, and seek, and knock—God is with them! Fishermen, and Canaanite women, and tax collectors who leave it all behind to follow Jesus—God is with them! And even workers who come to the fields very late in day come to know that God is with them too.
And now, at the Final Judgment, the greatest of all secrets is revealed: He is not only with us, but He has become us. Through his Incarnation in us he has actually become one with us. He has so embedded Himself with us that when others see us in our brokenness they are looking at Christ Himself.
Lord, when did we see You? When we were sick and found comfort, unemployed and found work, at a dead end and found the way out, was that You? Ah. So it was You all along, healing us through Your Body on earth and in heaven. And behold, You are with us always, even unto the end of the age.
When did someone see you when you needed them to?
What would YOU like to say about this question, or today’s readings, or any of the columns from the past year? The sacred conversations are setting a Pentecost fire! Register here today and join the conversation.
I have come to light a fire on the earth; how I wish it were already burning (Lk.12:49).
Whenever I read this Matthean passage 25, I think of anonymous Kingdom do-ers,…I think of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, etc. who are told by Christ that by virtue of their outreach to the poor, the label “Christian” is utterly relativized and is not an automatic ticket to entrance. – – Cris
I apologize for the lack of clarity of my entry this week. By “anonymous Kingdom do-ers”, I am referring to all persons who reach out to the needy regardless of their religious affiliations or their lack of it – – this means Muslims, Hindus, etc. including atheists, agnostics, etc. who follow the promptings of the Spirit even without their knowing it. On account of this fact, the label “Christian” – a term not used by Our Lord in this passage, is relativized – -i.e. its value as a formal designation is superseded by the value of the good work itself. The example that came to mind was when I was hosted in Mexico by a family whose father was a pronounced atheist. He was a good man, very generous, was raising a number of children as good human beings. When this person dies, he’ll be shocked to hear the Lord saying “Come you that are blessed by my Father. Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world.”