Sunday November 26, 2023

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“Everyone around you is an opportunity to give Christ the King a good name.”

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Good News Reflection for:

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King
November 26, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

Lord: Give me an alert spirit and a generous heart always ready to serve others. I want to follow You wherever You lead, taking Your love to heal, deliver and comfort my brothers and sisters. Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Ps 23:1-3, 5-6
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Matthew 25:31-46
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112623.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2020-11-22

What does Jesus do as King?

We don’t usually think of shepherds as kings, but the scriptures this Sunday describe the kingly powers of Jesus as our Good Shepherd. A good king cares for his subjects the way a shepherd cares for his sheep.

Kings increase the size of their reign and accomplish their work over the whole territory through their subjects. That’s why Jesus says, “Whatever you do for one of the least of mine, you do for me.”

For example, our Good Shepherd-King wants to distribute food to the hungry, all the way to the farthest reaches of his kingdom. How does he get it done? He gives an abundance of food to some of us and commands us to take it to those who need it.

What happens if we don’t fulfill the King’s commands? Do the starving people think the King is benevolent? No, they can only see his goodness when we do as he tells us to do.

Look at the people who are around you. Each one is an opportunity to give the King a good name.

What about the people whom you like least of all? What about those who’ve made you feel angry or intimidated or hurt? Well, ask this: What is he/she hungry for? If the answer’s not obvious, ask the Holy Spirit. Observe that person long enough to identify the emptiness or pain or fears that are buried under the surface.

Then ask this: What abundance has God given to me that this “least one” is lacking and needs from Christ our King? Can I show him/her the King’s benevolence despite my feelings?

When we say no to opportunities to share what we have, we are behaving like one of the goats whom the Good Shepherd-King separates from the sheep on the way to heaven. And when we say yes, despite the feelings that could make us goat-like, the King’s good reputation spreads, and we are all blessed.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What good things do you have in abundance? How readily do you share them? Who is of least importance to you? How can you take your focus off of what you don’t like about them so that you can give them blessings from God?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Have you ever done something good to someone who didn’t deserve it? How did this affect your relationship with Jesus? What abundance do you see in each member of your family or faith sharing community that, when shared, blesses others?

For more on the topic of this subject use our WordByte, “If Jesus Could Have Used Email” @ wordbytes.org/evangelization-ministry/if-Jesus-could-use-email/

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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