Faith in action Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King: Mt 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes as King and all the angels with him, he will sit on his royal throne, 32 and the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the righteous people on his right and the others on his left. 34 In the same way the servant who had received two thousand coins earned another two thousand. 35 But the servant who had received one thousand coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. 36 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. Then the servant who had received one thousand coins came in and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not sow, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed. I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you.’ ‘You bad and lazy servant!’ his master said. ‘You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not sow, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed? Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins. For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. As for this useless servant – throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and grind his teeth.’ ”
Other readings: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps 23:1-3, 5-6; 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28
LECTIO
This liturgical year draws to a close with the final part of Jesus’s fifth discourse in Matthew’s Gospel. It is not a parable in
the strict sense but paints a vivid scene of judgment. It is a complex passage so we will only be able to draw out a few points.
In most of the earlier parables the King represents God the Father. Here Jesus himself is identified as the King who will come to judge all people. Jesus knows that he will be rejected by the religious leaders and crucified. When he returns his true identity will be beyond dispute.
The image of a shepherd separating the sheep from the goats would have been a very familiar one to people in Israel at the time. Sheep and goats grazed together during the day but at night the goats, being less hardy, were separated so they could be kept warm.
The division of the righteous and unrighteous reinforces much of Jesus’s earlier teaching. Reaching out in compassion to people around us is a natural expression of faith in Jesus. Walking in obedience to Jesus and loving our neighbour leaves no place for being indifferent to the needs of others.
MEDITATIO
Meditate on Ezekiel 34:11-17. Consider all the different ways the shepherd cares for his sheep. What does this say to you about how God cares for you?
How does James 2:14-26 help our understanding of this passage?
How do you respond to the fact that Jesus will come to judge us all?
What does this passage have to say to us about our attitudes to other people?
ORATIO
Worship Jesus as the King seated on his throne and surrounded by the angels. Ask God to make you responsive to the needs of others. God might speak to you about people who are spiritually, as well as physically, hungry or thirsty.
CONTEMPLATIO
Give thanks that we are reconciled to God because Jesus paid the price for our sin on the Cross.
Lectio Divina is an ancient tradition of reading and engaging with God’s Word
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