Feast of Christ the King: Gospel Reflections A

Jesus said: “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. 

· When the Son of God came the first time, He humbled himself for our sake. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. When He comes again, He will come in all his glory and power as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

· The phrase, Son of Man, is Jesus' favorite way to refer to himself. Cf Daniel 7:13-14

· Besides the title, Son of Man, what three other titles are used of Jesus here in this parable?

And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

· Besides the sheep and the goats and the wheat and the weed, what other examples in the teachings of Jesus do you recall the theme of separation?

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.

· An inheritance is a totally unearned gift or bequest left by another in a last will and testament.

· The criterion of judgment will be the deeds of mercy that were done out of love for the least among us.  These six deeds of mercy or of loving kindness are found throughout the Old Testament, as ways people are to respond because of their relationship to God.

· Are these extraordinary acts or ordinary ones?

Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' 

· What does their response say about why they did what they did?

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' 

· The bottom line for God is living out the Commandment of Love in our life.

· In the first instance, the judgment is based on commissions—things done with the right attitude; in the second instance, the judgment is based on omissions—things not done and not basing one’s life on love.

And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." 

· Looking at my life within the above parameters, how will God judge me?

· What attitudes need changing in my life so that I can reflect what God is asking of me through these words?

· As I reflect on this passage, where do I feel challenged? How will I apply this message in my life this week?