Florida Catholic | Sunday Word

34th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Christ the King

November 23, 2008 :: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6; 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46

SISTER SALLIE LATKOVICH | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Sometimes, during the penitential rite at Mass, we replace the “Lord, have mercy” with the Greek “Kyrie El Eison.” The literal meaning of the Greek is “Lord, you are God!” Years ago at a forum on the catechumenate, Jim Dunning explained that the early Christians, awaiting their martyrdom in the prisons of Rome, began to chant “Kyrie El Eison, Christe El Eison, Kyrie El Eison.” Their intent was to say “Lord, you are God, not the powers of Rome that ‘lord’ it over us.” On this feast of Christ the King, we join with all the baptized in proclaiming “Lord, you are God” and not those who ‘lord it over’ anyone else in this life.

The readings we are given to hear on this feast give us a progressive reflection: Who is God? Who is Jesus? How are we to respond?

Ezekiel’s text reflects on God, the good shepherd. It begins with God’s own words: “I will look after and tend my sheep.” At the time of Ezekiel’s writing, the kings of Israel had not tended the sheep well; and so God promises to be the shepherd who looks after the sheep with great care.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul teaches that young community that the reign of Christ has set a new standard, one that is far greater and much more important than any human power or authority. Christ has saved his people not through aggression or battle or war, but through his death has conquered death. The victory of our Christ is simply so that God may be all in all. Our life in God is true life.

As Matthew’s Gospel is proclaimed on this feast, we can hum along: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me.” How are we to respond to our baptism in Christ, to our hearing the Gospel? By shepherding as God is the good shepherd, by “dying to self” so that others may live.

And, in case we need more specifics, Jesus provides them in the parable: The object of our affection must always be the poor. Who are the poor?

Those who are hungry or thirsty, perhaps the unemployed or those unable to work due to handicap or illness; the stranger, perhaps the immigrant or the person of color; the naked; the ill; the prisoner, perhaps those condemned to die for their crimes.

On this feast of Christ the King, we are challenged as citizens of his reign that we must follow his example; we must live the Gospel. It is not enough, not nearly enough, to talk the talk; we must indeed walk the walk of Christ.

Sister Sallie Latkovich, Sisters of St. Joseph, is an assistant professor at the Blessed Edmund Rice School of Pastoral Ministry in the Diocese of Venice, a part of Barry University of Miami.

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