CT - Catholic Telegraph

A Kind and merciful judg

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (A), Ezechiel 34:11-12, 15-17

This is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is the last Sunday of the church’s year and the Solemnity of Christ the King. There are, therefore, several levels of significance to today’s celebration. It is intended to remind us of the sovereignty of the risen Christ. It teaches us about the self-giving aspects of Christ’s kingship. But most of all, it is an eschatological observance. This celebration highlights the last or final things: the end of the age, death, judgment, reward and punishment. Christ is king, and as such, is the final arbiter of all creation.

In year A, the eschatological dimension of the feast of Christ the King is made very clear by the choice of the Gospel reading: Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus’ discourse about the last judgment. The Old Testament reading is about judgment, also.

Chapters 33 to 37 of Ezekiel are a collection of prophecies of consolation for Israel. Ezekiel and other high-ranking Israelites had been deported to Babylon about 397 B.C., 10 years before the final destruction of Jerusalem. Now word had come to the exiles of the capture of the city and, therefore, of the end of everything that the Israelites held sacred. Ezekiel speaks up to the exiles with the promise of renewal and transformation.

Chapter 34 is a parable about shepherds. At the beginning of the chapter, the prophet speaks out against the shepherds of Israel, the leaders of the people who had misled the people and brought them to their present sorry state. God will punish the shepherds and take the sheep away from their care.

But now, as our reading begins, God promises to see to the well-being of the sheep. God himself will become the shepherd of the people. God will tend them and rescue them. God will seek out those who have strayed and take care of the sick and the injured.

But not all the sheep are equally worthy of God’s care. Some members of the flock are arrogant and self-seeking, using what strength they have for their own selfish purposes. These members of the flock will be judged and marked out for destruction.

In the Gospel reading, we see Jesus carrying out what Ezekiel had threatened. Both readings promise the separation of sheep and goats, the sentence of the Lord on the individual sheep.

These two readings from God’s word remind us that the one who is ultimately in charge of the flock is the Lord, whether it be the Lord who takes over from unworthy shepherds the care of the exiled Israelite flock or the Lord who judges each individual member of the flock according to the way that each has treated the other members of the flock.

The Lord is kind and merciful. He looks after His flock with love. He protects the flock and its members from harm and heals them when they have suffered injury. God has always cared for His flock, and He will continue to do so even after this world has reached its conclusion.

But the individual members of the flock have a share of responsibility, too. Each one of them contributes to his or her own state of health and energy. Each one of them contributes to the general state of the flock at large. The individuals may not lay all responsibility on the leaders of the flock. True, the leaders must stand before God and be judged for the way they have exercised their leadership, but the individuals must also give an accounting of the way in which they contributed to the life of the flock.

Christ the King is Christ the Judge. He loves His flock and cares for His flock, but He will not overlook the harm that can come to the flock through the misbehavior of its leaders or its members. Christ the Judge is kind and merciful. He knows that our sins are more often than not the result of our weakness. But He also knows that our sins are real and destructive. He must take account of that as we stand before Him to learn what His final disposition of us will be.

We all have reason to be grateful to Christ the King for the loving care that He has exercised and still exercises in our regard. And we all have reason to look with concern toward God’s judgment because we are all sinners, because each of us, in one way or another, has harmed God’s flock.

We mark the closing of the church’s year with gratitude and with contrition.

For reflection and discussion

How does God watch over and care for me?

What are my sentiments as I look forward to God’s judgment?



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	*Overtures* Reflection on the first readings of the Sunday liturgy By Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk A Kind and merciful judg Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (A), Ezechiel 34:11-12, 15-17 This is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time. It is the last Sunday of the church’s year and the Solemnity of Christ the King. There are, therefore, several levels of significance to today’s celebration. It is intended to remind us of the sovereignty of the risen Christ. It teaches us about the self-giving aspects of Christ’s kingship. But most of all, it is an eschatological observance. This celebration highlights the last or final things: the end of the age, death, judgment, reward and punishment. Christ is king, and as such, is the final arbiter of all creation. In year A, the eschatological dimension of the feast of Christ the King is made very clear by the choice of the Gospel reading: Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus’ discourse about the last judgment. The Old Testament reading is about judgment, also. Chapters 33 to 37 of Ezekiel are a collection of prophecies of consolation for Israel. Ezekiel and other high-ranking Israelites had been deported to Babylon about 397 B.C., 10 years before the final destruction of Jerusalem. Now word had come to the exiles of the capture of the city and, therefore, of the end of everything that the Israelites held sacred. Ezekiel speaks up to the exiles with the promise of renewal and transformation. Chapter 34 is a parable about shepherds. At the beginning of the chapter, the prophet speaks out against the shepherds of Israel, the leaders of the people who had misled the people and brought them to their present sorry state. God will punish the shepherds and take the sheep away from their care. But now, as our reading begins, God promises to see to the well-being of the sheep. God himself will become the shepherd of the people. God will tend them and rescue them. God will seek out those who have strayed and take care of the sick and the injured. But not all the sheep are equally worthy of God’s care. Some members of the flock are arrogant and self-seeking, using what strength they have for their own selfish purposes. These members of the flock will be judged and marked out for destruction. In the Gospel reading, we see Jesus carrying out what Ezekiel had threatened. Both readings promise the separation of sheep and goats, the sentence of the Lord on the individual sheep. These two readings from God’s word remind us that the one who is ultimately in charge of the flock is the Lord, whether it be the Lord who takes over from unworthy shepherds the care of the exiled Israelite flock or the Lord who judges each individual member of the flock according to the way that each has treated the other members of the flock. The Lord is kind and merciful. He looks after His flock with love. He protects the flock and its members from harm and heals them when they have suffered injury. God has always cared for His flock, and He will continue to do so even after this world has reached its conclusion. But the individual members of the flock have a share of responsibility, too. Each one of them contributes to his or her own state of health and energy. Each one of them contributes to the general state of the flock at large. The individuals may not lay all responsibility on the leaders of the flock. True, the leaders must stand before God and be judged for the way they have exercised their leadership, but the individuals must also give an accounting of the way in which they contributed to the life of the flock. Christ the King is Christ the Judge. He loves His flock and cares for His flock, but He will not overlook the harm that can come to the flock through the misbehavior of its leaders or its members. Christ the Judge is kind and merciful. He knows that our sins are more often than not the result of our weakness. But He also knows that our sins are real and destructive. He must take account of that as we stand before Him to learn what His final disposition of us will be. We all have reason to be grateful to Christ the King for the loving care that He has exercised and still exercises in our regard. And we all have reason to look with concern toward God’s judgment because we are all sinners, because each of us, in one way or another, has harmed God’s flock. We mark the closing of the church’s year with gratitude and with contrition. For reflection and discussion** How does God watch over and care for me? What are my sentiments as I look forward to God’s judgment?

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