Daily Reflection – Nov 26, 2017
Sunday 26 November 2017
First Reading: EZ 34:11-12, 15-1
Responsorial Psalm:
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
PS 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
Second Reading: 1 COR 15:20-26, 28
Gospel Reading: MT 25:31-46
Today’s Note: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Gospel Reading:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life.”
Reflection:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Solemnity)
When the Son of Man comes in his glory . . . (Matthew 25:31)
Thinking about the Second Coming of Jesus can make us feel a little fearful. We know it will be wonderful to be with Jesus in heaven forever, but we also worry about the unknown. Today, let’s try to put aside this fear by imagining three scenes surrounding the Second Coming.
Scene 1: Fix your eyes on what it will be like when you see Jesus sitting “upon his glorious throne” with all the nations gathered around him (Matthew 25:31). Imagine what Jesus will say to this largest gathering of all time. The 2013 Kumbh Mela pilgrimage in India is currently the largest gathering, counting thirty million people. But even this pales in comparison to the potential of thirteen billion people coming together!
Scene 2: Fix your eyes on Jesus’ attractiveness. Pope John Paul II attracted so much attention wherever he went, simply because of his personality. He always projected a sense of joyful hope, of confidence in the Lord, and of love for the people he was with. He seemed always to make a personal, deep connection with his audience, no matter what the occasion was. Now, as attractive as he was, Pope John Paul II cannot come close to what will happen when Jesus returns. His love, his purity, and his joy will be unparalleled. This is why all the nations will gather around him.
Scene 3: Fix your eyes on the new heavens and new earth that Jesus will establish. Imagine a place where there is no need for doctors, police officers, prisons, military bases, or homeless shelters. Think of how Disneyland is called “the happiest place on earth.” Well, when Jesus ushers in the new creation, the “magic” of Disney will seem mundane and ordinary. There will be nothing but peace, joy, and contentment in the presence of the Lord.
Keep these scenes in mind all day today. Let them banish any fear of the unknown.
“Jesus, I can’t wait to see you!”
