November 22 - One Bread, One Body
November 22, Christ the King
Cycle A Readings:
1) Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6
2) 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46
King of the poor
''Christ must reign until God has put all enemies under His feet." — 1 Corinthians 15:25
Kings traditionally are concerned about pomp and circumstance, military might, taxes, palaces, and monuments. King Jesus is altogether different. When King Jesus “comes in His glory, escorted by all the angels of heaven, He will sit upon His royal throne, and all the nations will be assembled before Him” (Mt 25:31-32). He will judge on behalf of refugees, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned (Mt 25:36). He has no Pentagon, no military budget, and no national debt. He commands: “Owe no debt to anyone except the debt that binds us to love one another” (Rm 13:8).
The poor are His priority. He commands us to serve the poor. Material poverty in the world indicates our spiritual poverty in the Church. If we bowed before Jesus as King, the poor would have the Good News preached to them and be set free (Lk 4:18). If we had faith in King Jesus, we would “love in deed and in truth and not merely talk about it” (1 Jn 3:18).
King Jesus not only helped the poor but became poor. “You are well acquainted with the favor shown you by our Lord Jesus Christ: how for your sake He made Himself poor though He was rich, so that you might become rich by His poverty” (2 Cor 8:9). He chose to be born in a stable at Bethlehem, live in lowly Nazareth, work at manual labor, and even die like a slave on a cross. King Jesus is a different kind of king. He’s the King of the poor, and the King of kings.
Prayer: King Jesus, take over my life totally.
Promise: “Thus says the Lord God: I Myself will look after and tend My sheep.” —Ez 34:11
Praise: The Feast of Christ the King was instituted in 1925. It reminds us Jesus is King not only over individual souls, but over families, societies, nations and rulers. All hail, Christ the King!
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Imprimatur ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from October 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020.
†Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 25, 2020.
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.