Christ the King
(34th Sunday of Year A) [Mt 25:31-46]
26.11.2023
The
Judgement of the Nations
1. Theme in brief
The criterion of Christ the King’s
judgment
2. Focus Statement
The criterion in which Christ the King will judge
the people of all nations when he returns in glory is whether they did acts of
mercy to the least ones with whom he identifies himself.
3. Explanation of the text
Today’s gospel text depicts the
Last Judgment in the form of a story or parable. Some scholars call it Parable
of the Sheep and Goats. At the last judgement, the Universal Judge
is identified with a shepherd
who separates the
sheep from the goats (25:32); and also as a King
who sits on the throne of his glory (25:31,34, 40) to judge all the nations
gathered before him (25:32). He divides people into two groups: sheep
representing those who did good deeds
or acts of mercy
to the least
of his brothers or sisters to his right, and those who failed to do so
to his left (25:33,40,45). It was a common practice for shepherds in Palestine
to separate the goats and keep them inside at night to protect them from cold,
and the sheep outside as they could bear some cold due to their wool. In this
story the righteous ones are considered as sheep probably because they were
more valuable for their economy.
The criterion
of judgement by the Judge or the King at the end of the world is service rendered
by the people under judgement to the least ones (25:40, 45). The deeds of mercy
done by them are enumerated in concrete or
practical terms such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to
the thirsty, welcoming a stranger, clothing the naked, taking care of the sick
and visiting the prisoners (25:35). Thus, this story illustrates how the
righteous ones at the right hand of the king practiced the love-commandment
taught by Jesus by doing concrete acts of mercy to the
needy. When they surprisingly express their ignorance of meeting the
king with such dire needs, he answers that service done to the least ones in their
dire needs is in reality service done to him. The King admits those who pass
his criterion to his eternal Kingdom
prepared for them from the foundation of the world (25:34), and those who fail
in it to “eternal fire” prepared for the devil and his angels (25:41).
The given text speaks of
judgement of “all the nations”
at the end of the world and the criterion of judgement as service done to “the least of my brothers”. There
are various opinions regarding who “all the nations” and “the least of my brothers”
are. Some experts say that the former term refers to all humanity (Christians
and non-Christians alike) and the latter to anyone
in distress or need of any kind. Some others say that in
Matthew’s understanding, all nations refer to Gentiles
and the least of Christ’s brothers refer to Christians.
As the disciples
are called Jesus’ brothers elsewhere also in Matthew’s gospel (12:49; 28:10), they
deduce from it to say that it means the least of Christians. According to this
understanding, all Gentiles will be judged at the end according to deeds of
mercy done to Christians. We shall take the
first opinion that Christ the King will judge both Christians and non-Christians
alike at the end-time exclusively on the criterion of service rendered to the least ones or “the little ones” in need or distress. Here as
well as in other places in Matthew’s gospel, the word “least ones” or “little ones” (10:42;
18:6,14) has connotation of the most insignificant, vulnerable, helpless, the
underprivileged or the disadvantaged.
The righteous
are told that they encountered Jesus in so many insignificant
people whom they served without even knowing that they were doing it for Christ
himself and whom they do not even remember. The objection
of the unrighteous
that they never even met the Shepherd-King in distress, is answered by
explaining that they are not condemned for committing many sinsor doing
anything wrong, but for omitting
to do good deeds to the afflicted people. It is interesting and very surprising
to note that the criterion of judgment or the characteristic
mark of authentic Christians is not their creed, faith, sinless life
or state of grace, but the concern or care for the needy people. Jesus identifies himself
with such people. He calls them his ‘brothers or sisters.’ By ignoring them, he
says they have ignored him. Does it mean faith and worship are totally
unnecessary? Not at all. They are presupposed;
because it is grace that comes from prayer and worship that produces fruit of
good works.
4. Application to life
Today, as we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, the gospel text tells us that at the end of time Christ is going to come in glory as a King to judge not only Christians but also all humanity. The whole pilgrim Church (and unknowingly the whole of humanity) marches towards the heavenly Kingdom where Christ the King reigns. But what is going to be the criterion of getting admitted to his Kingdom? We are not judged by the prayers we said, the Sunday Services we attended, the Holy Masses we offered, the novenas we completed, but exclusively on the deeds of mercy and service rendered by us to the neediest persons or the least ones. Hence, the message of today’s feast becomes louder: Acclaiming Christ as our King becomes meaningful only when he is acclaimed through our solidarity with the least of our brothers and sisters by doing deeds of mercy for them. The rule of Christ the King is the rule of love and compassion towards such people. Hence, today we acclaim a King whose Kingdom is not a Kingdom of power, but service rendered to the least ones with whom he identifies himself. We become citizens of his Kingdom precisely by serving the least of his brothers and sisters.
In the given gospel text, the least ones are identified as the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the strangers, the sick and the prisoners. But these are only a few examples, and are neither to be taken literally, nor as an exhaustive list of all the least ones or the only needy ones, nor a list which includes all acts of mercy we are called to do for such people. These acts symbolize all other human needs – material, psychological or spiritual. The least ones also include all people whom Jesus showed special attention and concern: the poor, the outcasts, the sinners, the lost sheep and the sheep without a shepherd, the helpless, the sick, the women, the estranged, etc. Here Jesus applies the practical aspects of his love-commandment to include any small act of kindness or mercy done to so many insignificant people whom we may not even remember. For instance, visiting the sick in our neighbourhood; consoling a bereaved family; accepting at home a child which has gone astray; giving a helping hand to a family that has no means to repair their leaking house; tutoring a weak student; taking the side of the downtrodden; sharing our food and clothing with the deprived; giving our seat in crowded buses/trains to the aged person or a mother carrying her child in her arms; etc.
Mother Teresa has made this gospel text as the main basis of her mission to the poorest of the poor. She has shown in action that for her the least ones mean not only Christians but the whole of suffering humanity. She considered (and her Sisters continue to consider) the poor, the destitute, the orphans, the dying, and the uncared for of any religion, ethnicity, race or caste as the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters. She has shown to the world that service done to them is service done to Christ. Christ our King comes to us in the guise of the miserable and afflicted people of this sort. Love in action is a better acclamation of Christ as our King than mere lip service. Jesus makes it clear that love means doing good and doing good means responding to the needs of the poor or the disadvantaged.
In various parts of the world there are certain indigenous people, marginalized groups, downtrodden people, the migrants, the victims of war or natural calamities, etc. There are also regions where women and children are denied their rights. When we are directly or indirectly involved in programmes that empower them, we surely do service to Christ, though such service is often opposed by the powerful ones who have vested interests of their own to keep them as they are. Should their hate campaign, creation of fear psychosis, false propaganda, attacks and intimidation prevent us from recognizing our heavenly King who comes to us in the guise of such people? Should we not recognize him when he comes in their guise, and serve him with love?
In this
story, the judging King addresses the righteous ones on his right side
(symbolically “the sheep”) as “blessed” because they imitated a King who
heard the cries of the afflicted while on earth. These blessed ones knew very
well that their King wanted that in his Kingdom people should not go hungry,
thirsty, naked, and abandoned without care in times of sickness. On the other
hand, the “accursed” ones on his left side (symbolically “the goats”) just
closed their eyes on the needs of the disadvantaged. They failed to show to the
world that Jesus was their real King by neglecting or omitting to do what he had
commanded them to do. They
might have made a very good profession of faith in Christ or were very dogmatic about their beliefs and were regular
church-goers, but because of their lack of response to the dire needs of the
least ones, they were actually goats in sheep’s clothing. If we acclaim Christ
as our King, we have to make his rule of love and compassion as the guiding principle of our life. We need
to ask ourselves: which rule guides our life; rule of love and service to the
neediest persons, or rule of serving our own interests.
This story makes it clear to us that we are called to show active concern for the poor and the needy, not merely out of humanitarian or philanthropic consideration, but because Jesus identifies himself with such people. Mother Teresa had no hesitation to tell even non-believers that she saw Jesus in the poor and the orphans. Should we not share Jesus’ solidarity with the deprived ones? We should have the heart to recognize those in need and distress in our surrounding area and look for opportunities to practice at least one deed of mercy to such people in a pro-active manner. Traces of Jesus’ final coming as Shepherd-King to judge the world are already found every day in a hidden form. He comes, comes, and ever comes in the guise of the least of our needy brothers and sisters.
Those who consider murder, adultery and prostitution as the most serious sins of the world are bound to be shocked to hear that according to this story neglecting to help the needy is more serious than these sins. The unrighteous are condemned not for any sins committed but for Christian duties omitted. The help we give to the least ones should be given out of a loving heart and not to get any reward, merit or publicity. Those who did deeds of mercy according to this story were not even aware that they did all those things for Christ. What an unexpected surprise to know that the most humble and little gestures made with genuine love in one’s heart have a value for eternity. The accursed ones (symbolized by ‘goats’) must have thought that they would have done wonderful deeds of mercy to the afflicted if they had known Christ was coming in their guise. God wants that we should take care of the disadvantaged ones with no strings attached to it.
5. Response to God's Word
Does acclaiming Christ as our King mean for us showing solidarity
with the least of our brothers and sisters by our deeds of mercy towards them? Do
we recognize and serve our heavenly King when he comes to us in the guise of
the poor and the needy? As citizens of Christ’s Kingdom, do we seriously try to
put into practice the love-commandment of Christ in practical terms by doing
small acts of kindness or mercy to the needy and helpless people? Have we failed to show to the
world that Christ is our real King by neglecting or omitting to do acts of compassion to the
least of our brothers and sisters? Which rule guides our life: rule of love and
service to the neediest persons, or rule of serving our own interests? On which
side of the King-Judge are we now and will be when the final judgment comes: on
his right or left?
6. A prayer
Lord Jesus, today we acclaim and accept you not only as our King but of the whole universe. We acknowledge that your rule is a rule of love and compassion towards the poor and the needy. Grant that we may be more and more sensitive to the cries of such people and reach out to them with our deeds of compassion. When you come in their guise, may we recognize you quickly and serve you. And at the end when you come in your glory, may we be found worthy to hear these words from you: “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you.” Amen.
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