The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Readings:

Ez 34:11-12, 15-17

1 Cor 15:20-26, 28

Mt 25:31-46

The Kingdom is Within Us!

by: Br. Cesar Granada [cjm]

The Feast of Christ the King announces the end of our liturgical year. As we believe Jesus Christ as the Alpha and Omega, it is fittingly right and just to end the year in His honor and glory. He is the definitive revelation of God's revelation to us as I learned in our Theology classes and His reign spans from the beginning of time until the last days of humanity and creation as we read in the beginning of the Gospel of John. But what does the gospel today speak or tell us vis-a-vis this Kingdom Jesus reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit.

For me, the gospel today speaks how Kingship can be in the symbol of a Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus as King leads us on green pastures, to springs of water and protects us from the evil one as beautifully sings by Psalm 23. His Kingship is primarily of service out of love to all, regardless of our standing in life or position in society, God rules over all of us if we allow Him to.

As we enter our Faith in baptism, we enter this Kingdom in the loving arms of God in the embrace of mercy and love. In Jesus Christ, His Son and our Savior, the ultimate meaning of this shepherding took a new form in the language of the cross. God's steadfast love in the Old Testament became incarnated, became you and me, became history. Not stopping at being human, he journeyed with us in His life as a human person. And in his last days, showed us the true meaning of the Kingdom as His life and teachings revolve around it, it is love and mercy to all.

As we hear the gospel today, we see the Kingdom being born in the works of mercy;

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.’

This Kingdom continues to be born worldwide 24/7 as we see countless men and women of various backgrounds continue silently these works without bias, exchange or return. As we reflect this week, we too are asked, what are we doing in our own ways and means to further the Kingdom of God? If we profess Jesus as our King, His main command is to love, to love all like the sun's rays and the air we breathe!

Main source: eudistsphilippines.com...

Here you will read this info in our website CJM...