Solemnity of Christ the King

11-15-2020Weekly Reflection

The last Sunday of the liturgical year is the Solemnity of Christ the King, an anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. Next Sunday, we will begin a new liturgical year with the celebration of the season of Advent. David was the second Jewish king but the most beloved, despite some moral lapses during his reign. He was the first king to consolidate the whole Kingdom of Israel. Kings in the Old Testament were “shepherds,” but among all the kings, David was considered a good shepherd. Before he became a king, he was already a good shepherd protecting his father’s flock from wild animals and even risking his life for his sheep. As a king, David continued to be a good shepherd protecting Israel from all their enemies. As a result, his son King Solomon was able to rule in relative peace and prosperity.

Jesus Christ was the perfect Shepherd-King who gathered the scattered and lost sheep of Israel, and the Shepherd who brought back the lost sheep to the fold. In His ministry, Jesus often said that His mission was to call sinners and not the just because it is the sick who needs a doctor and not the healthy (Mt. 9:12). He led His sheep to good pastures and gave them rest. He healed the sick, expelled demons, and led people to the right path, and He fulfilled His mission by showing mercy and compassion.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gathered the scattered sheep deceived by false promises and teachings. The sheep were injured and weakened by false teachings and sins. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus wants to rescue, refresh, restore, and secure all His sheep. At judgment day, it is assuring to know that the Shepherd came not to condemn but to save the lost sheep. But even with the Good Shepherd, there will be sheep who will stray and will not follow the voice and the lead of the Shepherd.

In the Gospel today, Jesus is described as coming in glory and sitting on His throne. But unlike the many bad kings in the Old Testament who lord it over their reign, this Shepherd-King is the Good Shepherd who knows and welcome the sheep who recognize His voice. The goat on His left are those who did nothing for the poor and the marginalized whom the Good Shepherd identifies.

As followers of Christ, we are not just disciples of the Good Shepherd but also imitators of His life. We are His sheep, and He is our Good Shepherd. We belong to Christ, the Shepherd-King: who laid His life and identified Himself with His sheep.

Christ the King is in our midst! Similar to His first coming, the second coming of the Shepherd-King will not be in glory but poverty and humility. Because He came not in glory but poverty, many did not recognize the Shepherd-King. To save the sheep, He became the lamb and opened the glorious way for all of us. For this reason, the way to follow the Good Shepherd is by humble service. He will come again at the end of time, after having destroyed every sovereignty, authority, and power “He will hand over the Kingdom to the Father.” We are journeying to this glorious end, when “God will be all in all.” Full of joy for being counted among His sheep, let us celebrate this feast by imitating the Good Shepherd, the Shepherd-King, by serving one another in a self-sacrificing love.

Like Mary, let us listen to the voice of our Shepherd-King and allow His love to reign freely in our hearts. can.