SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

A school year, a fiscal year and the liturgical year all share one thing in common: none conclude at the end of the calendar year. This weekend, the liturgical year draws to a close with the Solemnity of Christ the King.

Some people object to the portrayal of Jesus as a King, finding the image too hierarchical, triumphant or sovereign. I share that sentiment. Instead, I prefer the imagery presented in today's readings.

Our first reading, from the prophet Ezekiel, describes God as a shepherd with a compassionate heart.

Our Gospel from Matthew compares Christ the King to a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats.

Membership in God's kingdom is not about power or status; it is about action: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting those in prison and caring for the sick.

And, if we add burying the dead, we have the traditional Seven Corporal Works of Mercy.

For any Christian who takes Sacred Scripture seriously, this gospel reading is one of the most unsettling passages in the entire Bible. Jesus tells us, "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did to me."

God becomes the least among us. The “Most High" chooses to be encountered in the "most low." God becomes the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick and the stranger.

This passage, "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me," haunted me years ago and continues to do so.

I looked into her eyes and turned away.

I remember the day well. It was a gray fall day, with winds sending a chill through my body. But most of all, I remember when I first saw her. It was out of the corner of my eye, which was filled with dust from the unpaved roads of Tijuana. The trick, of course, is to keep moving, to avoid eye contact, to not catch the painful or agonizing look on their sad faces.

I judged most of the panhandlers to be imposters anyway. They even make themselves look miserable for the sake of sympathy. And they chase after you, like a fly that hovers around. They are begging at every corner.

I recall successfully getting past several of them. But she saw me looking at her out of the corner of my eye. She quickly raised her dirty, aged, arthritic hand and begged for a handout.

I looked into her eyes, and I turned away.

Just as quickly as she raised her hand, I shifted my eyes straight ahead, pretending as if I hadn't seen her. I walked even faster now to safer territory. It is the border between "haves and have-nots." I rationalized to myself: "It's all a scam and a racket; giving her money will just enable her. It will just keep her and her children on the street."

I got into the safety of my car, away from the chill of the wind and the dust, but most of all, away from her. But I couldn't get her out of my mind.

I looked into her eyes, and I turned away.

I will be honest: I am not comfortable knowing that my final judgment will be based on how generously and selflessly I have extended myself to the needy, the abused, the refugees and the addicted.

On this Solemnity of Christ the King, the emphasis is not on Christ as a Sovereign King seated passively on a golden throne, indifferent to the world. Christ the King is not a rich king who lives in a fancy palace or castle.

Christ the King is a Shepherd King who lays down his life for His sheep. His throne was a cross; His crown was not gold but made of thorns. He was hungry enough to sweat blood in a garden, thirsty enough to be given vinegar to drink, stripped of His clothing, homeless and treated like a prisoner.

Our King, Christ the Shepherd King, is in disguise. As Mother Teresa said, "Christ is in a distressing disguise." And as Christ reminds us, "Whatever you did for the least, you did for me."

This gospel is a warning. It shows us what we must do to inherit His kingdom.

It is a Parable of Separation: sheep from goats, right from left, self-giving from selfish, the saved from the damned.

Where do you see yourself in the Parable of the Last Judgment? Will you be the one who acted with love, mercy and compassion?

Lord, when did we see you? Jesus may respond:

• When you fed the hungry through a food drive.
• When you gave coats to those without one.
• When you prayed for the dead, even strangers.
• When you welcomed a reformed convict, giving a second chance.
• When you defended the rights of all people regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation or creed.
• When you sought peaceful resolutions to cycles of violence caused by poverty, addiction or senseless shootings.
• When you acted to protect creation, ensuring clean water, healthy food and a sustainable world.

Then Jesus will say to you, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."