Christ must reign

All those basking in the glory of their power deceive themselves, thinking the power will last forever. Sovereignty, authority, influence, the imagined greatness — when people have this, one would think they expect the whole world to bow to them in idolatrous adoration as if there is no end to it. Dynasties see to it that the monarchies and the line of succession is continuous. Terms of presidents and officials are secured by manipulation of systems of governance. Anything, by hook or by crook, that would insure perpetuity of the reign whether that reign is illicitly acquired by usurpation or cheating.

Yes, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." We Christians are always reminded of this. And at His coming, He will gather to Himself all those who belong to Him. Who are they? The Gospel today identifies who belong to Him. And the identification of the divine Master is very specific. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, He will sit upon His Royal throne, and all the nations will be assembled before Him. Then He will separate them into two groups, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The sheep He will place on His right hand, the goats on His left. The king will say to those on His right, ‘Come, You have my Father’s blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, naked and you clothed Me. I was ill and you comforted Me, in prison and you come to visit Me" (Mt 25:31-36).

Strange king, this Christ is, one might say, to identify with His people and take upon Himself their sufferings, that his Kingship is that of carrying upon His shoulders the burdens of those who labor. And how many would follow a Kingship without pomp and circumstance, without fanfare, without the trappings of worldly wealth. How many? But whatever the fewer number, those would be identified at the last judgment. And those who would not accept Him because He was the poor carpenter’s son in Nazareth, those who would not follow Him because the foxes have holes but He had not wherewith to lay His head, those who shouted ‘crucify him’ because they wanted to please the chief priests and scribes, the Pharisees and the Roman royalties, those who shouted derision when He was being tortured and scourged, and those who grinned a devilish smile as He hang on the Cross dying and forgiving His enemies.

Today, we live in a wounded world and the wounds of humanity are Christ’s passion. When, Lord, were you hungry, thirsty, sick, naked, in prison? When did we take you into our dwelling because you were homeless? Maybe the answer of Christ is something we never thought of during our common rounds. We dropped a few coins into a beggar’s outstretched hand as a matter of course because most people do it. We join the ladies of charity to distribute bags during Christmas, so we can be numbered among the affluent who volunteer their services to be seen or to be photographed for the newspapers. But who among us would feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth those who do not even have a piece of clothing to cover their bare backs, take in the homeless especially during calamities or who are the street children who sleep in the sidewalks, homeless, who among us would approach the condemned in prison if only to show them that they are not really outcasts of society? Who among us would do all this not for the purpose of receiving a plaque of appreciation or an award? Who among us would give charity out of genuine compassion? The compassion of Christ, His mercy which is the mark of His divine royalty and His eternal Kingship which goes by His Eternal Word: "I assure you, as long as you did it to one of these, my least brothers, you did to Me" (Mt 25:46). The Kingship of Christ is a reign of mercy.

Solemnity of Christ the King, Matthew 25:31-46.