Solemnity of Christ the King – Cycle A
Reflecting on Matthew 25:31-46
And so the year ends as it began. Last Advent we began this year of Matthew by reading the account of the angel who appeared to St. Joseph in a dream, telling him that Mary had conceived a child through the Holy Spirit. And this was to fulfill what the prophet Isaiah had spoken, that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, whose name would be Emmanuel, which means God with us.
And all year long Matthew told memories of Jesus that brought that truth home over and over again. The poor in spirit, the peacemakers, those who mourn—God is with them! Those who ask, and seek, and knock—God is with them! Fishermen, and Canaanite women, and tax collectors who leave it all behind to follow Jesus—God is with them! And even workers who come to the fields very late in day come to know that God is with them too.
And now, at the Final Judgment, the greatest of all secrets is revealed: He is not only with us, but He has become us. Through his Incarnation in us he has actually become one with us. He has so embedded Himself with us that when others see us in our brokenness they are looking at Christ Himself.
Lord, when did we see You? When we were sick and found comfort, unemployed and found work, at a dead end and found the way out, was that You? Ah. So it was You all along, healing us through Your Body on earth and in heaven. And behold, You are with us always, even unto the end of the age.
When did someone see you when you needed them to?
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I have come to light a fire on the earth; how I wish it were already burning (Lk.12:49).