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Pastor’s Column

Our Lord Christ the King

November 20, 2011

There was an interesting story in the paper about a man who had raised a hippo, almost from birth. Even as this wild animal grew, he fed it and cared for it, and considered it to be a “friend.” He was also warned that this animal remained wild. As it grew, it began raiding neighbors’ crops and causing mischief. Eventually, as hippos are prone to do, he turned on his “friend” and mauled him to death without any provocation.

This story is almost like a parable, isn’t it? We cannot really make friends with sin and expect to come out of the encounter alive. We may have a relationship with our “friend” for a long time; but, true to its nature, sin will eventually turn on us and destroy us if we do not deal with it adequately.

Jesus teaches us that at the last judgment, many will be caught by surprise, even those of us who hear and try to follow this gospel (Mt 25:31-46). One of the things we don’t realize is that sin comes in two forms. Sins of commission are those we do, like lying or stealing. Sins of omission are those that we ought to have done and failed to do. And this is precisely what is so startling about the last judgment: Jesus will base it on what we failed to do.

Jesus makes it so easy for us! He tells us in advance that we are in the middle of a timed test (our lifetime) and what the correct answers are. The key is that we don’t know how long our individual test will be (ending on the day of our death), nor do we know which disguises Jesus will wear today when we meet him, but we do have hints.

What hints? Jesus tells us that if you gave a coat to the coat closet, he was the recipient; if you are patient with a relative or friend over Thanksgiving, that was him too; if you ever held a door open for someone or let them go in front of you in line at the store checkout line, that was Jesus. The test of our faith and our love is precisely this: how did we treat the ordinary people in need around us? No one is expendable in God’s eyes. Every person we encounter, no matter how flawed, is Jesus in disguise. These are the components of our test and this is where the sins of omission come from!

Like the unfortunate man with the hippo, we can kid ourselves for a long time that we don’t have a potential problem in our lives. Fortunately, the Lord gives us lots of warnings about how to deal with the dangerous hippos we may be “friends” with and is always ready to forgive us when we fail.

Father Gary

Sunday Scripture Study

Solemnity of Christ The King - Cycle A

November 20, 2011

Click here for USCCB readings

Opening Prayer

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17

Psalm: 23:1-3,5-6

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

This Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the liturgical year; next Sunday begins Advent, the penitential season of waiting and expectation.

Jesus’ three preceding parables about being prepared (Matthew 24: 42-51; 25:1-13; 25:14-30) are completed by his announcement of the Final Judgment at the end of time when he will sit on his throne and judge the nations, that is, all men (see Ezekiel 34:17-20; Daniel 7:9-14; John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Revelation 20:11-15).

Christ identifies himself with those in need and all are judged and rewarded by him by how they ministered to him through them (Matthew 16:16-27; Romans 2:6-11). Faith alone is not the basis—in fact faith is not mentioned here or in the preceding parables.

Jesus himself also makes it clear that both heaven and hell are very real—and eternal.

QUESTIONS:

In the 1^st Reading, the Lord is depicted as a Good Shepherd who tends the weak among his flock. He is also portrayed, however, as a just judge. Upon what is his judgment based (see Ezekiel 34:17-24)?

In the 2^nd Reading, St. Paul describes how he and his fellow evangelists have spent themselves in the service of the Gospel. What, surprisingly, is his own response to this? Would that be your reaction in a similar situation?

List the six actions Jesus will use as a basis of judgment. What kinds of acts are these? For whom are they done now and ultimately (verse 40)? How do they benefit the doer?

How are those who don’t do the acts and those that do them similar? Different?

In this reading and those of the last few weeks, how were Jesus and his opponents different in actions and attitudes? Is the judgment note of these readings consistent with your view of Jesus? Why or why not?

What do these readings teach about Christian responsibility? Who are “these least brothers of mine”?

When have you been hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothes, sick or imprisoned, and someone reached out to you? How did it feel?

In the six areas noted by Jesus, where do you feel yourself serving most naturally? In which areas do you have the most trouble reaching out?

Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 544, 668-682, 1038-1041, 1503, 2443-2449, 2463

We have, I admit, a rigorous account to give of our sins; but who will be our judge? The Father...has given all judgment to the Son. Let us be comforted: the eternal Father has placed our cause in the hands of our Redeemer Himself. St. Paul encourages us, saying, ‘Who is [the judge] who is to condemn us? It is Jesus Christ, who died...who indeed intercedes for us’ (Romans 8:34). It is the Savior Himself, who, in order that He should not condemn us to eternal death, has condemned Himself to death for our sake, and who, not content with this, still continues to intercede for us in Heaven with God His Father.

-St. Alphonsus Liguori