Christ the King (A)
Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP
OLR, NOLA
What
do you think of when you hear the word “authority”? Not so long
ago here in the U.S. that word would have brought up images of
security, certainty, limits, comfort. Scientists in lab coats solving
problems. Military personnel defending the nation against our
enemies. Police officers keeping the peace. Mothers and fathers
raising families. And Catholic priests and religious teaching the
apostolic faith. Pick another point in human history and “authority”
might conjure images of the National Guard fighting rioters;
overcrowded ration stations; or the church burning heretics. These
days, “authority” seems to be something of a dirty word. Our
national and cultural establishments have surrendered most of their
moral authority to secularism's “long march through the
institutions.” It is no longer entirely clear to many of us who we
are, why we are, or where we are going. And waiting on the arrival of
some person or event to give us direction is leading us to a national
emotional breakdown. The solemnity of Christ the King is celebrated
this morning in order to remind us that when the authority of the
world betrays us, when it fails, as it inevitably does, Christ our
King never has and never will.
We
can imagine the Christ the King in hundreds of ways. Glorious Ruler.
Wise Leader. The Great God-Man. All would probably capture some
aspect of his sovereignty and might. Matthew shows us what Christ the
King looks like on the Last Day. The Just Judge. The Righteous
Measure of Souls. Taking into his view the length and breadth of our
lives in his service, the Just Judge weighs our deeds against our
misdeeds, our generosity against our stinginess. He weighs the degree
to which we have absorbed his love and shared it with our brothers
and sisters through concrete acts of charity. He tests how well we
have forgiven; how well we have hoped; how often we have depended on
his gifts; and how sincerely we have submitted to his authority as
our King. Those who stand transparent before him, the ones through
whom he can see his own face, he will say, “Come, you who are
blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world.” For those souls muddied by stinginess,
hatred, self-righteousness, and greed, he will say, “Depart from
me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and
his angels.” It is the feast or the fire.
The
sharp clarity of this parable is shocking. There's no wiggle-room
here. No “but what he really means is” interpretation. If Jesus
had wanted to remain somewhat obscure in this teaching he could've
done so. . .easily. He's done it before. But what we have here is a
stark, black and white, Yes/No choice. (I don't think we modern,
American Catholics are used to this sort of thing!) Our choice is
simple: serve Christ
the King by serving the least of his, or don't.
The result of each choice is laid out for us as plainly as they can
be. This is my choice. Your choice. How you and I are judged on the
Last Day is up to you and me. Am I a sheep or a goat? An obedient
servant of Christ? Or a self-serving sinner? Lest you think this
whole parable about guilting you into being good boys and girls, keep
in mind – there's nothing hidden here. Christ the Just Judge is
laying out before us what Judgment Day will entail. There's no guess
work, no gotcha's, no “if I had only known's.” With his authority
as our Redeemer, our King, Jesus tells us – “Serve me by serving
the least of mine.”
How
do we serve the least among us? Start with Christ; that is, from the
root of your service make Christ the top, bottom, and center of your
work. Your motive is Christ. Your inspiration is Christ. Your
strength and resilience is Christ. Above all, your final goal, your
end is Christ. Good works are good works. BUT good works done for the
sake of Christ and his ministry are good works with everlasting
effects. Don't feed the hungry b/c they hungry. Feed them b/c Christ
in them is hungry. Don't visit the sick b/c they are sick. Visit them
b/c Christ in them is sick. IOW, treat the hungry, the naked, sick,
the imprisoned as if Christ himself is hungry, naked, sick, and
imprisoned. Gov't agencies, secular relief services, non-profits can
feed, clothe, and visit those in need. But only Christ can minister
to Christ. And on the Last Day you want Christ the Just Judge to look
at you and see himself. You served him and in doing so perfected the
Father's love in you.
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