The readings especially the Gospel reading
for the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
King of the Universe highlights
and basically gives us a checklist.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angles, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand. Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepares for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you made me welcome, naked and you clothe me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.
Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a strange and make you welcome; naked and clothe you sick or in prison and go to see you?"
And the King will answer, "I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers or sister of min, you did it to me." Next, he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you never gave me food; I was thirsty, and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me."
Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?" Then he will answer, "I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me." And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.
Matthew 25:31-46
Sounds cruel when we read eternal punishment. Although, this Gospel is helping us to choose whether or not we are sheep or goats. These tasks aren't hard to do but why is it so hard for some people? I understand life is hard and we get so exhausted that we have nothing more to give but if I have chosen to follow God and serve God then I know that the race isn't over, I have to keep going checking all the boxes so that one day I can enter eternal life. I've been watching Fr. Mike's homilies on the YouTube channel Sunday with Ascension and when he said, "Here is the thing no one listens to me, I give advice, and no one cares." When I heard that I cried, and I said, "I listen, and I care." Even though he doesn't know I am listening because I live in Australia, and I am watching on my computer, but I am listening, and I care because I want to grow in my faith, I need guidance and direction because I get lost, and I lose my way sometimes.
I am sure that every day I offer someone a drink, I feed the hungry and I make people feel welcomed. Could I do better? Sure, I could do better, we all could do better. This verse though is a good reminder and a good checklist to keep us all on track.
Where do you want to spend eternity?
May God Bless Always, Faith, Hope and Love by
My Mother Rose.
Written and created by Katie Robinson.
