Daily Catholic Lectio
Sunday, 26 November 2023
Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Solemnity of Christ the King
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28. Matthew 25:31-46
He guides me on the right paths!
Our Lord Jesus was announced as the new-born king in the Incarnation. He was called ‘Son of David.’ He was hailed as the ‘King of Jews’ by the Wise Men from the East. His parables and miracles were pointers to the kingdom that he wished to bring forth on earth. At His trial before His Crucifixion, He said that His kingdom is not of this world.
Today we celebrate Jesus as the King of the Universe. The monarchy is being replaced by democracy today. The gospel reading tells us that Jesus identifies himself with the little ones.
There are three expressions that are related to ‘king’, ‘kingship,’ and ‘kingdom.’
(a) Being seated on the throne. This implies Jesus’ authority over heaven and earth.
(b) King. The people who were at Jesus’ right side were able to call him as ‘king.’
(c) Kingdom. The people on Jesus’ right side are being invited to take possession of the kingdom of Jesus.
This passage teaches us that Christ’s kingship is intimately connected to love in action. It is not just about acknowledging Him as King in word; it is about recognising His presence in the marginalised, the vulnerable, and the needy. The Kingdom of Christ is a kingdom of love, compassion, and solidarity.
In a world that often values power, success, and self-interest, Christ invites us to a different kind of kingship – a kingship that serves, a kingship that seeks out the forgotten and neglected, a kingship that finds its glory in acts of love and mercy.
As we reflect on Christ the King, we are reminded that our faith is not merely a set of beliefs but a way of life. It’s about embodying the love of Christ in our daily interactions, reaching out to those in need, and recognising the dignity of every person as a child of God.
Moreover, the gospel challenges us to examine our lives and ask: How are we living out the commandment to love our neighbours? How are we responding to the needs of those around us, especially the marginalised and oppressed? Are we actively participating in building the Kingdom of God here on earth?
The Feast of Christ the King is a call to conversion and a renewal of our commitment to follow the ways of Christ. It is an invitation to participate in the ongoing work of building a kingdom where love reigns supreme.
What are the lessons for us today?
(a) Power emerges from within. Jesus’ power as king was from within. In the second reading, Paul writes to the Corinthians that God will be all in all in the end. This realisation that God is in us gives us power over our lives.
(b) Identifying with the little ones. Jesus identifies himself with the little ones of his time: the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, strangers, the sick, and the imprisoned.
(c) Doing the little things. The first reading brings before us the Lord as the shepherd of Israel. His does three works: gathers the scattered sheep; binds the wounds of the sick; and destroys the strong.
In today’s Responsorial Psalm (cf. Ps 23), King David, who calls the Lord his shepherd, asserts that the Lord will guide him in the right paths. The path towards the little ones is not the path of mercy, but the path of justice.
We, who celebrate Christ the King, shall realise that we too are his princes and princesses.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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