Jesus Christ the Universal King

REACHING OUT TO
AND IDENTIFYING WITH THE LEAST

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46

Readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King

According to a Jewish legend, a man went to heaven and watched at the gates. 

A rabbi came and made his claim to enter: “Day and night I studied the Torah.” The angel at the gate said: “Wait! We will investigate whether your study was for its own sake or for the sake of honours.”

A zaddik approached next: “I fasted much; I underwent many ritual cleansings.” The angel said: “Wait until we investigate your motives.”

Then a tavern-keeper came and said: “I fed without charge every poor person who came into my inn.” The angel opened the gates for him.

The Jewish legend has the same thrust as the gospel about the final judgment: God judges us not upon our acts of religiosity but upon the acts of mercy we show (or do not show) to the least – the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the ill, and the imprisoned. More important, whenever we serve these least ones, we serve him, who identifies himself with them.

In the first reading, through Ezekiel, God promises that he will reach out to the lost, the strayed, the injured, and the sick, and he will shepherd them. In the gospel, he challenges us – who have experienced his shepherding love – to be the shepherds and to reach out to the least.

At the end of the liturgical year, the liturgy invites us to ask:

How has God has reached out to me and shepherded me? How will I reach out to and identify with the least of my brothers and sisters?

XXXIII Sunday of the Year

BE A HI-FI CHRISTIAN

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30

Readings for the XXXIII Sunday of the Year

As a child, Norman Geisler—the famous theologian and author—went to a vacation bible school because some friends invited him. He returned to the same church for Sunday school. Each week a bus driver picked him up. For eight years, he attended church, but never was never baptised. Finally, during his senior year in high school, after being picked up over 400 times, he was baptised. 

What if the bus driver had given up on Geisler at 395? What if the bus driver had said: “This kid is going nowhere spiritually, why waste time on him?” (cf. Max Lucado, God Came Near). What if!

That bus driver was a hi-fi (high-fidelity) Christian. He stuck to the task entrusted to him. 

That’s the challenge Jesus puts before us in this Sunday’s gospel: fidelity to our God-given mission. The parable of the talents is not about using/multiplying our skills! A talent was fifteen years’ wages, and—in the parable—symbolises something of great value to the Lord which he entrusted to his servants. It represents his word (love, forgiveness…): he calls us to transmit/ share this talent.

The first reading glorifies “a worthy wife” not for her talents but for her fidelity to her responsibility.

Am I faithful to my God-given mission of doing my daily duty and of proclaiming his word? Or does fear (of failure, rejection, judgement) prevent me from being faithful?

May I be a hi-fi Christian and faithfully communicate God’s love, word, and forgiveness to all people.

XXXII Sunday of the Year

BE PREPARED

Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Matthew 25:1-13

Readings for the XXXII Sunday of the Year

A youngster applied for a job as a farm hand. When the farmer asked him for his qualifications, he said: “I can sleep when the wind blows.” The farmer was puzzled but he hired the young man. 

A few nights later, there was a violent storm. The farmer and his wife woke up and began quickly checking things. They found a supply of logs near the fireplace; the implements were in the storage shed; the tractor was in the garage; the barn was properly locked; the animals were calm. The farmer grasped the meaning of the young man’s words: “I can sleep when the wind blows.” The farm hand had faithfully performed his work; he was prepared for the storm. 

In the Gospel parable, Jesus uses the context of a Palestinian wedding to talk about the same thing: being able to sleep when awaiting the bridegroom’s coming!

The parable has an immediate-local meaning. The Jews’ history and scriptures should have prepared them for the coming of Jesus. But they were unprepared and were therefore shut out from the banquet.

The parable has a universal significance. There are some things we cannot put off. We cannot put off our prep for the Lord’s coming.

Further, the fact that the wise did not share their surplus oil suggests that the prep for the Lord’s coming is not something that one can borrow/share. One cannot borrow/share a relationship with God; character/attitude; love and good works.

Moreover, what separates the wise from the foolish? Both were invited to keep vigil, both brought their lamps, both fell asleep. Two things separate them. One, the wise had adequate oil; they were prepared. Two, there is no mention that the lamps of the wise ones were going out; only the lamps of the foolish ones were. Perhaps the oil they were using was insufficient in quality as well. 

Every person is responsible for the state of his/her lamp!

What is the level and quality of the oil of the lamp of my life? Do I have enough oil to see me through serious moments?

If my lamp is going out, perhaps I have not filled it enough and with the right oil!

XXXI Sunday of the Year

CREDIBLE SERVANT LEADERSHIP

Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12

Readings for the XXXI Sunday of the Year

A pastor was excited that a university professor was coming to his parish. The pastor endeavoured to prepare and to deliver better homilies. A few months later, while chatting with the professor, the pastor found that the professor came to the parish not because of the homilies; he came because an elderly couple made him feel welcomed and valued. Hospitality outdid erudition. Servanthood surpassed showmanship.

That’s the thrust of this Sunday’s readings.

Malachi condemns the priests for not living up to the priestly ideal and for causing the people to falter. The consequence? Yahweh will make them “despised and abased before all the people.”

In the gospel, Jesus condemns the pharisees because theirs was a religion of legalism and ostentation; theirs was a life that lacked credibility. Jesus condemns not religious authority but its abuse as a means of self-promotion. 

In contrast, Paul had a deep pastoral concern for the Thessalonians, and describes his pastoral ministry among them as being “like a mother taking care of her children.” Part of this concern was shown in his refusal to be an economic burden to the infant community; he worked night and day to earn his living.

Jesus says God will humble self-glorified leaders and exalt those who practise credible servant leadership!

Today’s readings present two models of leadership: the model of showmanship described in the first reading and the gospel; the model of gentle and nurturing concern which Paul shows towards the people of Thessalonica.

What kind of leader and disciple am I? 

What kind of religion do I follow: a religion that is inauthentic, preoccupied with rules, and focuses on externals and ostentation; or a religion that is authentic, people-centred, and spirit-filled?