XXXIV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
By our Pastor, Fr. Carmelo Jiménez
Now we have come to the last Sunday in Ordinary Time, known as the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. So we will reflect on the way Jesus Christ reins over the earth and over heaven. It is important to recognize that we are his subjects and to live as such.
The first reading from the prophet Ezequiel clarifies Jesus Christ’s mission as the Good Shepherd, but at the same time with the life of a King, a supreme King, in his ministry. The prophet affirms: “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.” (Ez 34:16) And so in the psalm we respond: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” Because I am the sheep, because that promise that my shepherd will look for the lost sheep is for me, in first person, not for someone or anyone, but for whoever receives Jesus in his heart and lets himself be transformed by him. According to the reading it doesn’t matter what situation you find yourself in, good or bad, if you want to change let yourself be found by this good shepherd, Jesus Christ himself.
A few weeks ago something horrible happened in Mexico: 43 college students were kidnapped and their location is still unknown. There are a lot of hypotheses about what happened that afternoon but it’s almost certain that they are dead and that they will never be found. The point is that it appears that many officials are involved in one way or another in these kidnappings, including local, county, state and even high officials of the Mexican government. This is the way to govern in Mexico and in many other countries. Corrupt, greedy authorities use authoritarianism, arrogance and injustice as ways to govern. That is the way to reign according to this world.
The Gospel tells us about Jesus Christ: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (Mt. 25: 31-33) That is to say, Jesus Christ is the King that God the Father has given the power to judge us at the end of time. We may ask ourselves, “What is the rule or law we will be judged by?” The Gospel itself gives us the answer: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Mt 25: 35-36) The law by which we will be judged is the love for God made flesh in the least of his people. I love the song that says, “whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.” Compared to the reign of Christ, the ways to reign proposed by the world today leave a lot to be desired. The rules for reigning in this world are selfish, based on having more things and power, but Jesus Christ’s way of reigning is by self-giving and sacrifice, based in charity and love.
Lord Jesus Christ, good shepherd and Eternal King, come reign in my heart and do not let my heart be filled with ambitions of this world that can separate me from you and your kingdom. Jesus reign in our families and in our communities. Grant peace and strength to those who are forsaken and suffering alone because they do not know you. Help me to grow in my love for you, under your reign. Amen.