Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, Year A
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 (1)
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46

November 26, 2023

The Lord speaks through the prophet Ezekiel in a time when those who had been appointed shepherds over the people would not fulfilling their calling.  This included both kings and religious leaders.

Seeing their failure to answer their call as shepherds, The Lord declares, “I myself with look after and tend my sheep.”  God will not abandon his people. 

In the 23^rd Psalm, the writer professes, “The Lord is my shepherd.” 

What is the role of shepherd that kings and religious leaders have failed to do?

The 23^rd Psalm says the Lord will feed us in verdant pastures.  Both Psalm 23 and Ezekiel assure us that the Lord will give us rest.  Psalm 23 professes that the Lord will guide us.  The Lord himself assures us through Ezekiel that He will pasture his sheep.  He will seek out the lost and bring back those who have strayed.

Through Ezekiel the Lord promises, “I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered.”  In the time of Ezekiel, the kingdom of Israel had fallen and the people scattered.  The Lord promises to bring them back together. 

For us, the Lord’s promise of rescue can point to Jesus who rescues us from our sins.  Sin began in Adam.  In sin came death.  Through Christ will come life.

As the Lord speaks through Ezekiel, promising to shepherd them, He also says He will judge between them.

Last week we heard that God sees how we use the gifts we have been given and will treat us accordingly.

This week Jesus specifically tells us how we will be judged.  Have we cared for our neighbors?  Have we fed the hungry and given drink to the thirsty?  Have we clothed the naked and cared for the ill?

From the criteria of our judgment, we have what are known as the Corporal Works of Mercy.  The word “corporal” refers to our bodily needs.  Loving our neighbor must start here.  Why?  Because if a person is starving in physical hunger or without clothing, spiritual things may not matter much.

As a parish, do we answer Jesus’ call as our shepherd king to feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty?  We offer a weekly meal at the Community Table and support the Schuyler Outreach Food Pantry. 

Do we welcome the stranger?  You are part of the parish.  When you see an unfamiliar face in church, do you welcome them?

We try to visit the sick but we need to do better on this.  Who can help?

We start with the Corporal Works of Mercy but we shouldn’t stop there.  When we have helped others in physical hunger, we can ask do we offer them spiritual food?  Do we point them to the Eucharist?

If we have helped them find clothes, do we then point them to being clothed in Christ?

When we care for the ill, do we bring Christ to them?

Do we care for those in prison?  Do we point people to Jesus who can set them free from their sins?

These are questions we can ask ourselves individually.  Of course, no one person can do all of these.

We need to ask ourselves these same questions as a parish.  What is Jesus our king calling us to do?

Both our Parish Pastoral Council and Finance Council have been looking at how we are doing.  For the Parish Pastoral Council, discussion has centered on how many less people come to church and how to lead people closer to Jesus. 

Our Finance Council has responsibilities for the budgets.  Both parishes have shortfalls in their budgets this year.  But our Finance Council realizes this isn’t all about money.  If we had more people coming to church, then we would have more money.

Look around you.  How many empty seats do you see?  Who used to sit around you who is still alive?  Is there someone you could invite back to church to know Jesus as their king?

If they are no longer able to come to church because of health, do you visit them?  Is there something Jesus your king wants you to do to help them?  How can we help them as a parish?

After all our Masses this weekend, our Parish Pastoral Council is hosting coffee hours.  Come, have something to eat, share fellowship, and talk with some of the council members.

As to Jesus our king, in the Lord’s Prayer we pray “thy kingdom come.”  His kingdom is one of “truth and life…holiness and grace…justice, love, and peace.” 

What is Jesus calling you to do to help spread his kingdom on earth?

What is Jesus calling our parish to do to help spread his kingdom on earth?