Homily Feast of Christ the King November 22, 2020

 Homily   Feast of Christ the King  November 22, 2020

          Did the like the Gospel we just heard?   You know, sometimes the Gospel is obscure, difficult to figure out, or to apply to our daily life.  Sometimes we don’t understand the customs or the figures of speech from the times and society of Jesus.  We read the Gospel and end up scratching our heads.

          But not our Gospel today.  It is clear and definite.  Whatever you do or fail to do for the least of the brothers and sisters of the Lord, you did or failed to do for Him.  Pretty simple.

          So, who are the brothers and sisters of the Lord?  It is EVEYONE. 

I urge you to take this seriously, because this is of the utmost importance.  I told the St. Austin School students on Friday a week ago that this is the Final Final, the ultimate test, the test you want to pass and ace more than any other test or final exam.  Because the results are eternal.

          Jesus makes it very clear.  He tells us precisely the material on which we will be examined at the end of our life.  And it is NOT about what church you belonged to, nor what name you used for God, nor what theology you held, not what prayers you said, not what political party or nation you belonged to.  None of that will be on the test. 

          It is all about how you treated others, especially those most in need.  Did you wear a mask during the pandemic in order to help keep your neighbor healthy, or did you not care about their health because the mask was uncomfortable?  Did you let go of your desire to hug and chat and instead maintain at least six feet distance from others out of concern for their well being and yours? 

          This is about stuff that is practical and concrete.  It is not about lofty sentiments and good feelings of brotherhood and sisterhood.  None of that will count on the final exam of life. It is about concrete actions, actual acts to help another person.   That could be donating to today’s second collection, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  It could be choosing to not pass on the latest funny but nasty and derogatory political tweet.  It could be calling that neighbor or relative or coworker who you know is isolated and lonely.  It could be writing a letter to your elected officials to urge them to protect the environment, to pass just laws, to protect all human life from conception to natural death, to care for the 666 children still separated from their parents at the border.  It could be offering to go grocery shopping for the elderly or sick neighbor.  It could be just listening patiently to your spouse or child or a lonely person. 

          It does not have to be dramatic or heroic or noteworthy.  But is does have to be done.  You have to do it. Not wish it, nor think about it, nor feel it, not study it, not talk about it, but DO it.

          Don’t put this off.  Today and everyday take this Gospel to heart.  It is the best investment you could ever make.  The rewards are eternal.

          And the king will say to those in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me.”

God bless!