Solemnity of Christ the King, King of the Universe

Solemnity of Christ the King, King of the Universe – how will you serve your Lord?

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, King of the Universe. We understand that Christ the Son of God is King of the Universe. We also know that Christ was King, when he was an infant, / when he was a young boy lost in the temple, / and when he presented himself for baptism / When he attended a wedding with his mother, and when he was crying out in agony in the garden Christ is King of the Universe.

This King does not rule from a Palace like many royals and is served by many of his servants. No

In today's Gospel Jesus Christ our King says that HE is served when his people are served. Repeat

In the Judgement, we hear that we will be separated, like the sheep and the goats. This flies in the face of our popular thought now, when someone we love has died, we immediately beatify them. We all but call them saints. Sometimes we do that too. Some even use the language to earn their wings. Let me start by saying we are human beings and are not angelic beings and when we die we do not become angelic either. We are two different created beings, angels are angels and humans are humans. Angels do not become human and humans do not become angels. We were created differently for our intended purpose.

Secondly, We should not justify the death of a loved one by saying God needed them, even if this makes us feel better about the situation. This makes God an agent of death. God is an agent of life and of the living. He offers us an understanding by serving others we can serve him. In serving others we become open to his plan for us. To inherit the Kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world.

In order for us to inherit the beatific promise, we must serve our Lord, we do this by serving others. We must do this with a love for Christ, this is expressed by loving and serving our neighbor.

When I was leading RCIA, we would take families to Mission Arlington to serve in what they call the Christmas store. This is where families in need would come and pick new toys based on the established need. If you had three kids then you picked toys and gifts for the three kids. Everyone is vetted, and if they are there shopping then there is a need. I remember one day when I volunteered at the store as a personal shopper, the next person I was to help was a beautiful sharply dressed woman. I looked at the list she had five kids all very young, I wondered if this woman who was dressed nicer than anyone in the building was really in need. As I shopped I judged her in my mind. We picked all the gifts and had a few wrapped, normally you thank them and dismiss them at the end of the shopping experience but something told me to help her out to her car with her bags since she had so many kids. We normally do not ever do this. But the spirit was asking me to do it so I offered her help with her bags. She was so relieved when I offered. We walked to the parking lot five blocks away and she said you are probably wondering why I’m dressed so nice today. I said no, even though you know I did. She went on to tell me that she was going to lead Bible study that day. Then I remembered that every one that is helped more than once is expected to participate in a bible class. Her participation led her to lead that day's study. And she wanted to present herself for her study. I felt like a heel now that I heard her explain. When we got to her car she thanked me for helping her and how much she was looking forward to Christmas this year since her kids would have gifts and be together. I thanked her for allowing me to help her. I then thanked my lord for showing me that serving all of his children with love is what he expected of me.

We might not think we have people in our lives who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, ill, or imprisoned. But we have people that are hungry and thirsty for someone to sit with them. We have many people who are strangers in the same household, our Lord is asking us to get to know those in our midst. Most of us have never seen anyone so without that they are naked. In our homes, we probably have more clothes than we will ever need. We can share our surplus with the needy. I know I removed and donated a bag of clothes from my closet and it still looks full. If you do not have anyone sick in your family then count your blessings, I know many people who are sick and suffering great illnesses. We can do more to comfort them by visiting and caring for them. When we think of imprisonment we think of jail, but people can be imprisoned in their home alone, or in a nursing care facility. Helping the imprisoned is one of the most honorable ways to care for God's children.

As we prepare for Advent and the coming of our Lord, we should prepare ourselves for his return. We have the hope that we will be called home to our beatific promise. The one that was prepared for us from the beginning of the world. We know what sin is, and we must amend our sinful ways. We must also care for others in the way we serve our Lord through his people.

In a few minutes, we will have an opportunity to present ourselves before the table of the Lord to receive him, when we do let us also be his herald to the World in the way we carry him to the streets of our neighborhoods.

When we serve his people we should see the Christ in them…

And remember that every single person has a name a face and a story that is precious to God so, in turn, it should be precious to us.