XXXIV-Christ the King:[A]:Ez 34:11-12,15-17;I Cor15:20-26,28;Mt25:31-46

XXXIV - Christ the King:[A]:Ez 34:11-12,15-17;I Cor15:20-26,28;Mt25:31-46

Event: The dirty walls of the place of execution resounded with the shout, "Viva Cristo Rey! Long Live Christ the King!? And Blessed Miguel Pro completed his life, his arms held out wide in the form of a cross. His shout was the defiant cry of the Cristeros, the Catholics of Mexico who were determined to restore the reign of Jesus Christ in a land that was suffering the most intense anti-Catholic persecution since the time of Elizabeth I of England. Miguel Pro was born to a family of miners in Guadelupe, Mexico in 1891.

The new president, Calles, declared that he had a personal hatred for Jesus Christ and vigorously enforced anti-Catholic measures throughout the country. In Miguel's home state of Tabasco, the governor, Canabal, closed all Churches and forced the priests whom he did not kill into hiding. Fr. Miguel Pro found ways to reach out to the people. He was accused of involvement in an assassination attempt on the former president; caught, arrested and quickly sent to the firing squad. President Calles had the scene meticulously photographed and published on the front pages of all of the newspapers of Mexico in order to scare the Catholics into submission. He even allowed a funeral convinced that no one would come and giving him the opportunity to say that the faith, like Miguel Pro, was dead. Instead 20,000 to 30,000 people came. Throughout the funeral they shouted Fr. Pro's last words, "Viva Cristo Rey.? Sixty one year later, on September 25, 1988, Miguel Pro was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II as an American martyr. Today is His feast day, the anniversary of his death, November 23rd. "Viva Cristo Rey!? Our commitment also is to Christ the King. Like Blessed Miguel Pro, we cannot allow anything to destroy the passion within us for the One whose death showed us the way to life. We need to fight for the Kingdom.

Exegesis:  The first reading introduces God as a Shepherd reminding us of Christ’s claim that he is the true shepherd.  In the second reading, St. Paul tells us the risen Jesus will reign until evil in every form has been destroyed.  Then Jesus will turn the kingdom over to the Father.  In the gospel Jesus is pictured as a judge, a judge who judges us on how we behave toward the lowly and the poor.  This we have three images of Christ the King: a shepherd, the risen Lord and the judge of all nations.

We have seen many TV shows of judges sitting in a courtroom handing out reward or punishment.  I believe that in the final analysis, when the time comes for us to stand before Jesus, he will not be like a judge sitting in a courtroom.  It will be the love that is in us, the love for God and the love for others that will determine whether our eternity will be an eternity of peace and joy or an eternity full of regret for having thrown away the opportunities God gave us to know him and love him and love others.

His reign is one of justice because he will judge each one according to his or her action. He shall uphold the just and reprimand the culprit. There is no corruption, embezzlement, manipulation, or structural injustices in his kingdom or during his reign. Rather, his reign will be the reign of peace because: “…He will judge among many people, rebuking strong nations far away; and they will reshape their swords as plowshares and their spears as pruning hooks. No nation will threaten another, nor will they train for war anymore” (Ish 2, 4; Micah 4, 3). His scepter shall be peace and justice. Today’s celebration will only make meaning to us if only we have given Christ the highest seat and key to the kingdom of our hearts where he earnestly desires to reign. If he reigns in every heart, then he reigns in our world. If he reigns there already, then rejoice and celebrate, if not, then let us ask him today, to come in because he says to us: “I stand at the door waiting, if you open I will come in to eat and dine with him” (Rev 3, 20). If he reigns in you, then yours are all gains and no losses.

Practical Applications: We need to be prepared to answer “Yes” to the king’s six questions: In the parable about the separation of sheep from goats in the Last Judgment, Jesus reminds us to get ready to answer “yes” to his six questions based on our corporal and spiritual acts of charity.  “I was hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick, imprisoned; did you help Me?”  We are reminded that when we care for these little ones we are actually taking care of Jesus who lives behind their faces. Mother Theresa explains that they are, "hungry, not only for bread, but hungry for love; naked not only for clothing, but for human dignity and respect; homeless not only for want of a room of bricks, but homeless because of rejection."  All the sacraments and prayers in the Church are meant to make us truly compassionate toward them.

Thirty forth Sunday: Christ the King: Introduction

Message: The Lord Jesus is our shepherd. At the end, at his coming, he will hand over the kingdom to his Father.  He will “judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats”, between those who have lived their lives for others, and those who have lived for themselves.

Saints and Events in this Week: 24 – Twenty Forth – Monday – Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, priest, martyr and his companions, martyrs; 25 – Twenty Fifth – Tuesday – Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin, martyr; 27 – Twenty Seventh – Thursday – Thanksgiving day;