A homily for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Nov. 22, 2020
Ez 34:11-12, 15-17, 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28, Mt 25:31-46
My mom grew up in a row house in the Logan section of Philadelphia, where everyone had a front porch and there was no separation among them except for a three-foot-tall brick divider.
On one hand, back in the first half of the 20th Century, it engendered a sense of neighborliness we’re missing in the suburbs these days. On the other hand, privacy was in short supply.
Which meant that everybody knew when her neighbors three houses down got their nightly outdoor checkups on their porch and had to choke down their foul, fishy-tasting medicine.
All because it was good for them.
In one episode of the TV version of “The Odd Couple,” Oscar reacts angrily when Felix says that an unpleasant task is all for Oscar’s benefit:
“Every time something is for my own good … none of it is for my own good!”
Sounds familiar, right?
We humans, especially we Americans, are really lousy at following orders, regardless of how much better off we’ll be if we do. We know better. We’re rugged individuals, and we’re going to do it our own way.
And our current social and political divides aren’t helping us fall in line behind a benevolent, gracious and merciful ruler like Jesus Christ.
Even though we know deep in our hearts that everything our Triune God asks of us is for our own good — for the good of all of us — we often stubbornly say, “Nah. No thanks. I’m good.”
It also doesn’t help that America was founded with an explicit rejection of monarchs. The notion of a good king rings false to us. We’ve seen too many examples of kings and queens who set themselves miles above their subjects, who let them eat cake and, when told “the peasants are revolting,” replied, “Yes, and they smell terrible, too.”
Jesus, on the other hand, smells a lot like his sheep. The Good Shepherd-King, the meek and humble Servant-King always stays close to his sheep, in the midst of the flock.
Inches away, not miles.
He embraces us. He makes it easy for us to embrace him.
Today’s Gospel — as powerful and beloved as any of his guidebooks can be — today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus is present in our lives visibly, tangibly through our sisters and brothers, especially those in need.
As the pandemic rages on, as the pandemic worsens this fall and winter, we all are in need. Some of us are struggling financially; some of us are in dire financial straits. Some of us have been infected by COVID. Some of us have lost loved ones, or have family and friends scarred by this plague.
All of us are feeling the weight of lockdowns and restrictions and social distancing, because none of us wants to be socially distanced from anyone. We’re not built that way. We’re social beings. We want to hug and kiss; elbow-bumps are pale substitutes.
The emotional and psychological toll is great.
People are in need. Our brothers and sisters are in need. And Jesus calls on us to be his hands in this world.
Today’s Gospel challenges us to seek out anyone in need and assist — and this is important to remember — in any way possible.
“…whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Whatever. You. Did.
What. Ever.
Jesus does not measure any quality or quantity. He simply acknowledges that whatever we did, wherever we did it, whenever we did it, however we did it for a child of God in need, we did for him.
And he gives us a subtler message as well.
We all recall that Jesus proclaimed the two great commandments:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The second, really, is 2a and 2b — love your neighbor and love yourself. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of others.
These days, as we each carry the weight of the world, we should check the mirror every now and then to see if we’re among the least. And there’s no shame in that.
Because doing something for ourselves, whatever it is, however much it is, really is for our own good. And that’s good for everyone.
Jesus says so.
The King of the Universe says so.
