Homily For The Solemnity Of Christ The King Of The Universe Year A.
Ezekiel 34:11-12.15-17; Psalm 23:1-3.5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26.28, Matthew 25:31-46.
“CHRIST THE KING: THE KINGSHIP OF SERVICE
By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.
· Today the church comes to the end of one liturgical year (Year A) and begins another (Year B) with the celebration of the solemnity of Christ the King. It is the universal and public acknowledgment that all that there is comes from God and therefore God is king over all. It is from him that every kingship and governance draw their authority.
· The kingship we celebrate today is a kingship of service as exemplified in the depiction of Christ as a chief shepherd. Jesus corrects our understanding of leadership and service. While the children of this world see power and authority as an opportunity to dominate and lord it over people; the children of the kingdom of God see leadership as an opportunity to serve.
· The Gospel reading (Matthew 25:31-46), tells us that Jesus is not just a king but also a just judge. He will judge us not only by what we do but by what we refused to do (omission). When the day of judgment comes, the Lord will separate the sheep from the goats. The righteous from the unrighteous.
· Those who will be on the right-hand side are those who have persevered to the end. Those who have kept the Lord’s commandments, those who have made righteousness their rule of life. While those on the left, are those who will suffer the pain of being denied the glory of the presence of God because of their refusal to obey God’s commandments and live out goodness.
· Friends in Christ, we have a choice today to decide where we want to spend our eternity. It is not enough for us to all come out later today to proclaim in full view of the world that Christ is the King of the universe while carrying the Blessed Sacrament. We must first show it in our own lives and in our relationships with others.
· If Christ is truly for you the King of kings and the Lord of lords, we will feed the hungry irrespective of who they are, we will give drink to the thirsty, we will be hospitable to strangers despite the risk involved, we will clothe the naked, visit the sick, the home-bound and the imprisoned. These are what it takes for Christ to be King of your lives.
· It is no longer news that some people only feed those who can comfortably feed themselves. They call for a banquet to feed those who are already overfed, they give drink to those who can afford the most expensive wine ever. They make time to visit the hospital if only their big friends and business associates are hospitalized and, in most cases, it is a special hospital and in a special ward where the poor cannot even come close. When they travel, they buy boxes of clothes for those who do not need them, just to impress, if they ever visit the prisons, they know that they are visiting the VIP section where maybe their friends are being detained for one high-profile crime or the other. No wonder it is said, “We live in a strange world where the poor walk miles to get food, and the rich walk miles to digest food”.
· When we do all these, we are not Christians but lobbyists and favour merchants and Christ is not our king. We will be called to account for our activities on the last day. May it not be said to us “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).
· In the first reading (Ezekiel 34:11-12.15-17), Jesus also demonstrates that his kingship is not an oppressive one like the kings of this world, but a kingship of service and care. He promises to look after his flock and to shepherd us. If we stray from the right path, he will bring us back.
· So, for as many of us who strayed from the right path, it is not too late to retrace our steps. For many times, we have preferred hypocritical Christianity rather than authentic Christianity, the Lord wants us back to the fold where we will be shielded and sheltered.
· The second reading (1 Corinthians15:20-26.28), recognises that our human weakness, our propensity to sin is increased because of the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve. However, since sin came through one man, salvation must also come through one man. Jesus then becomes for us the new Adam; whose mission is to subdue sin and death forever through his sacrificial death on the cross.
· Today dear friends in Christ, as we go out to tell the world that Christ is the king of the universe, we must first make him the King of our lives, the King of our families, the King of our businesses, and in all we do, the like the Psalmist, we must realise that if we make “the Lord our shepherd, there is nothing we shall want” (Ps. 23:1).
· May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!
· Happy Sunday!!!
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