Christ The King

Mt 25: 31-46

The Final Judgment

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. ³⁴ 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. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸ And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

This vivid description of the Final Judgement does not dwell on the crown or magnificent robes of the Greatest King that ever was, but, although it mentions his glory, the angels with him, and his glorious throne, the emphasis is on his judgement of those who identified with and helped the poor and those who did not. Jesus even identifies himself with the poor, hungry, homeless, naked, sick and imprisoned. What a reverse image of a King, but what an extraordinary and motivating scenario that invites us all to sit on the throne as the King's companions!  We don't need wealth, fine clothes or a palace, but simply service  to the outcasts, or in Marist terminology, :" the least favored,"  those whose circumstances put them in need of help, be it food, clothing, or the education too enable them obtain these basics of life on their own.  And, among these "basics" is the opportunity to learn about this King of Kings and come to love and serve him through our word and example. May we be inspired and graced to accept this "kingship of service to the poor" and carry it out.

Bro. Rene