Nov 22, 2020 - Christ the King

(Ez 34:11–12, 15–17; 1 Cor 15:20–26, 28; Mt 25:31-46)

The world at large has the final judgment wrong, but so do many Christians. Sometimes we tend to think that God will ask us how much we prayed, how much we read about the faith, how often we had fellowship and community with others, how often we received the sacraments. All of those things are important- that’s true—but the bottom line for God is going to be how we treated others because, as Jesus says, the way we treat others is ultimately the way we treat him.

The individualistic modern world believes that each man is free to do whatever he wants with his life—each man is an island and his choices have no effect on others. John Paul II taught that this leads to a self-centered lifestyle that gets us to fail in our responsibilities, like Cain, who said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

On the other hand, the Gospel tells us that we are all interconnected in the Body of Christ and that we have an essential responsibility to all people, starting first with our families and then moving out into the world. What matters is whether we have let him soften our hearts so that we feed the hungry, forgive those who have sinned against us, and reach out to the lonely. Because his kingdom is not a kingdom of wealth and power; it is a kingdom of humility, love, and service. Christianity identifies with the poor, sick, lonely and downtrodden in a way that other religions don't. We are to see Jesus in them and take action.

• Often we act as if we can avoid death if we eat right, exercise, and do all the “right” things. Yet death comes to each of us. Think about how you have lived. Are you ready to die if you were to be called in the next few minutes?
• The primary thing we will be judged on is how we have treated the poor and the suffering. What is your attitude toward people in poverty? Do you think it is somehow their fault?
• What have you done to alleviate poverty and suffering? Share unique ways you have found to reach out to others that are hurting during this pandemic.