prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me.
I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me into your home.
I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.’
Then the righteous will ask him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and give you food; thirsty,
and give you something to drink; or a stranger, and welcome you; or naked, and clothe you?
When did we see you sick, or in prison, and go to see you?’
The king will answer, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers
or sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight, into the eternal fire,
which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry, and you did not give me anything to eat;
I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me into your house;
I was naked, and you did not clothe me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me.’
They, too, will ask, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger,
sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
The king will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you: just as you did not do it for one of the least of these,
you did not do it for me.’
And these will go into eternal punishment; but the just, to eternal life.”
LECTIO DIVINA:
Read: “Viva Cristo Rey!” The last Sunday of the Liturgical Calendar is the Solemnity of Christ the King.
This year, Cyle A, presents Jesus as the Shepherd – King. The first reading speaks of the Shepherd
who is dismayed with Israel who has time and again become disobedient. Thus, there is a promise of
the coming of a Good Shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will lay down his life for his sheep (2nd reading).
He is also the King, who on judgment day will discriminate the good from the bad – the sheep from the goats.
Refelct: In Israel, the shepherd’s staff was used to guard and guide the sheep. The shepherd was always
ready to put his life at risk for the sake of the sheep. The shepherd was always in the look-out for any danger.
Today, the Shepherd of the Flock of Christ, the Pope and Bishops follow the Good Shepherd.
Always, there is great risk in becoming a true shepherd. There is joy for the shepherd when the flock is docile.
There is great sorrow for the shepherd when the flock is, like goats, head strong and disobedient.
Pray: We pray for the Church on this last Sunday of the Liturgical Calendar. We pray that the shepherds
of the Church may be like Jesus the Good Shepherd. We also pray that we, the faithful, may be more like sheep and not goats.
Act: We must all seek to belong to the flock of Christ. Our King is a Good Shepherd;
but he‘s also a King who will return to be our judge! Make me docile, oh Lord.
May I follow Jesus, my Good Shepherd and King.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020