1st Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28
Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46
It is a blessing to see all the children here this morning. It is a blessing also to see all these families here together with their children especially on this Feast of Christ the King. It is for all a blessing to be able to come to this table where the King of Kings offers himself up for us.
I would like to start off by talking with the children here this morning. I would like to tell you a story children about a little girl named Isabelle.
Now, Isabelle’s mother helped with the big kids at the church they attend. One Saturday, Isabelle’s mother said; “Would you like to go with me and the youth group to Samaritan House to help the boys and girls there?”
Now kids, this is a good place where children are helped to heal from an accident.
“Oh yes” said Isabelle. She wanted to do what the big kids do. When they got to Samaritan House, Isabelle asked her mother, “Why are all the children in wheelchairs?”
“Because they can’t walk”, said her mother.
“Why”, asked Isabelle.
“Because they have been hurt”, said her mother.
“Why don’t they talk right”, asked Isabelle.
“They are trying to talk right, but it’s hard for them”, said her mother.
Isabelle was scared in that place and stayed right next to her mother.
She watched the big kids. They weren’t scared. They sang songs for the children. They played with them and talked with them.
But despite what she saw the big kids doing,Isabelle wanted to go home.
That night when Isabelle and her parents were getting ready to say prayers, she said, “Why did we go to that place with all the weird children?”
“Isabelle,” said her mother, “Those children aren’t weird. On the outside they look different, but on the inside they think about things just like you do.”
“Just like me?” said Isabelle.
“Just like you. If you got hurt like that, if you ran out into the street and didn’t look both ways and a car hit you, you’d still be you,” said her mother.
That made Isabelle feel scared. “I don’t want to look at them,” she said.
“If you don’t want to look at them, you can look at Jesus in them,” said her mother.
“What do you mean?” asked Isabelle.
“You know how we pray for you when you are sick, how we ask Jesus to come and be inside you and make you well?’ said her mother.
“Yes”, said Isabelle.
“Well, if Jesus wants to be inside you to make you well, don’t you think that Jesus also wants to be inside those children too,” said her mother.
“I guess so,” said Isabelle.
“So, the next time we go to Samaritan House, look at Jesus inside them. Then they won’t look weird any more.”
“Is that the way the big kinds do?” asked Isabelle.
“That is,” said her mother.
Then they prayed a prayer and they ask us to pray with them like this:
Dear God, Help us to see Jesus inside us and inside everyone, Amen. Thank you Children for listening.
All of us can get something out of this story. Isabelle’s fear of the unknown is what got to her and our fear is what gets to us. How many times have we passed by someone who acts different because of a disability and not really looked at them? Do we look away or do we make eye contact? Were we afraid of saying anything or did we say hello in friendship?
Remember what Jesus said in today’s gospel? “Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Yes, we can see Jesus in others if we really look; not a quick glance but a real look like you look at one another.
Jesus goes on to say that when “I was hungry, thirsty, sick, a stranger. Christ makes himself one with those in need. Our King is in the hungry, our King is in the thirsty, our King is in a stranger, our King is in the sick, our King is in those in prison. Can you see Jesus in them?
We need to see Jesus all in all. Everything that is good comes from God through Jesus Christ. And in the final day, all of humanity will be assembled in front of the King of Kings on His throne and in hope ready to be judged by Him. Will he say to us “Depart”, or will He say to us “Come?” That is up to each one of us.
Let us all be like Isabelle our story. Let us pray to our Father in heaven to help us see Jesus in others. Let us pray to God to help us be open and ready to receive Jesus in us through his body and blood in the Eucharist. Let us come to this altar ready to sacrifice ourselves for His kingdom on earth.
God will reach out to us when we become lost in the dark. He will tend his flock, yes-you and I, and in the end of time, he will judge us accordingly through His son, the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.
In Advent, which starts next Sunday along with the changes in the Roman Missal, the new Church year will begin with a focus on the final restoration of all creation to its original glory. In preparation, on this last Sunday of this Church year, we proclaim the expected advent of the Lord of lords and King of kings . But until he comes, we can and will experience a glimpse of His Kingdom when we see Him in others.
Pray this prayer daily and live it out daily and you will be happy and joyful when the time of judgement comes:
“Teach me, my God and King,
In all things thee to see,
And what I do in any thing
to do it as for thee.” Amen!