The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Today’s feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is a relatively new one. It was first celebrated in 1925 at a time in Europe when evil men were coming to leadership and the Holy Father thought it good to remind us that it is Christ who reigns over all.

In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel tells God’s people that the Lord God is a shepherd for them.  The Lord God will protect them and provide for them and in the end will judge them.  During his public ministry, Jesus spoke of himself as the Good Shepherd and in today’s parable tells us that there will be a final judgment, as Ezekiel prophesied, similar to a shepherd separating sheep from goats.

It’s a comfort and a powerful assurance to us then to know that our King and Lord is like a shepherd who only wants good things for us.  Jesus has laid down his life for us on the cross and is ready to help us in any way in order that, in the end, we share in the fullness of his Kingdom in heaven for all eternity.

The gospel parable reminds us too that the one thing our Eternal King asks of us is that we care for the weak and those in need.  We are to imitate him in every way, looking out for those who need us and then responding when we see that person.  The amazing part of the parable is that Jesus tells us when we are there for others, it is he whom we are serving.  It’s not as if we are serving those who are like Jesus.  We are serving the Risen Christ himself standing before us, as St. Teresa of Calcutta says, often in “the distressing disguise of the poor.”  And, of course, we remember that those in need are many times those closest to us: our family, our friends, people we see each day of our lives.

Holiness takes root and grows in us when we can see with the eyes of faith that it is Jesus who is before us.  St. Alphonsus Rodriguez was a Jesuit brother who was a doorkeeper for years, and when there was a knock, he responded with a quick prayer, “I’m coming, Jesus.”  St. Faustina also had times when she tended the door and she too knew that it was Jesus who would be there asking for something.  We need to be like Alphonsus and Faustina.

We need to ask for that same grace they had: to know and see that it is Jesus himself who needs us.  It is similar to the faith we have that enables us to look beyond the appearances of bread and wine to know that is the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist.

The Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is our brother, our savior, and our shepherd.  He comes to us each and every day so that we can serve him, provide for him, and love him. 

We need to spend time each day in quiet prayer, asking for the eyes to see him, the willingness to serve him, and the heart to love him.  When we do that, we can be confident that we will blessed on the Day of Judgment and will be welcomed into the Kingdom that will never end.