THE PASSWORD TO HEAVEN IS MERCY AND CHARITY

 *Sunday November 26, 2023* 






 *Thirty-Fourth Sunday of the Year A.* 

(Last Sunday of the Year)


First Reading. Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17

Psalm 23: 1-6 (R.1)

Second Reading. 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28

Gospel. Matthew 25: 31-46


TOPICS FOR REFLECTION


 *THE ETERNAL KINGSHIP OF JESUS* 


 *THE PASSWORD TO GOD'S KINGDOM IS MERCY AND CHARITY.* 


God is the King of His Kingdom


Therefore... 


---Where there is no king, there will be no kingdom. Jesus is God and king, His kingdom is in heaven

---You are the king of your kingdom (family, society, etc). Jesus is the king of His kingdom 

---Your kingdom is the picture of your kingship, just as Jesus' kingdom is the true picture of His Peaceful and Merciful kingship.

---If you are a king of peace, your kingdom becomes peaceful.

---If you are the king of violence, your kingdom becomes a war zone.

---If you are a king of vices, it means your kingship is earthly.

---If you are a king of virtues, it means you are establishing your kingdom in heaven.


So, kindly join me to sing from the Catholic Hymn Book(CHB) 39.


Chorus: The King of Glory comes the nation rejoices, open the gate before him, lift up your voices. 

(If you as a king or queen are coming and the nation never rejoices, check yourself)


1. Who is the king of Glory, how shall we call Him? 

He is Emmanuel the promise of ages. etc.


JESUS AS GOD

God is the creator of the universe, and He creates it, rules it and governs it; therefore He is King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 


Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, and He is equal with God the Father, therefore He is God.

Then as God, He is a king 👑 and messiah of the universe.


Therefore, as a King, his kingdom has no end because all other kings and their kingdoms came from Him, and shall return to Him.

Hence, every other human king has an expiry date, but Jesus' kingship has no expiry date.


Every earthly King has his kingdom, such as the Waziri kingdom, Ijale kingdom, Zuale kingdom, Afonja kingdom, etc.

However, Jesus is a king and His Kingdom is not of this earth but above in heaven.

More reason, Herod sought to kill him at His tender age because he felt threatened that his earthly kingdom might be overtaken by Jesus. Cf. Matt. 2: 16


Do you know how the world celebrates these sets of people? They shout and celebrate them as follows:

***He who begins is a beginner 

***He who creates is a creator

***He who found is a founder

***He who develops is a developer

***He who invents is an inventor

***He who initiates is an initiator

***He who starts is a starter, etc. 


My dear, all of the above persons are recognized and regarded as number one, which means they are regarded as "kings" of what they found, initiated, or began. 


If the above are the realities of humanity, then God who had been in existence before time began, who created heaven and earth, the world we live in, who made us, formed us in our mother's womb, who knew us before we were born. Cf. Jer. 1: 4-5. 

Is it not enough for us to regard Him as King? 


Are you aware that Jesus' method of establishing God's kingdom was more of a humble service to humanity?


Jesus portrayed the quality of a leader in His kingship

1. He led by example by being like us in everything but did not sin. Cf. Heb. 4: 15

2. He performs supernatural miracles, heals the sick, raises the dead, comforts the sorrowful, feeds the hungry, etc.

3. Today's Gospel summarises how He will carry out His judgement as king at the end.


His judgment will be of mercy and justice. Then the beatitude of the Gospel of Matthew 5 will be outplayed on the last day which in summary as the beatiude said, blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.


Today's Gospel says the sheep shall be separated from the goats. Invarably, Jesus as king will admit into His kingdom all those who are merciful and charitable to their fellow men and women.


So, in summary, all of us in one way or another are Kings and Queens of the territory we govern, either in the family as Father, Mother, elder brother or sister, class prefect, a boss in the office, leader of one society or another, even if your leadership is that of a mobile type; what is important is that the territory you govern is your kingdom while you are either king or queen of the place.


So, reflecting on today's Gospel which is related to both the first and second reading, the Lord will separate sheep from goat.


This means as earthly kings and queens, if you treat people as goats, Jesus as king will treat you as goats after your death, but if you treat people as sheep, you will also be treated as sheep after your death.


Invariably, the measure you use to rule over people placed under you here on earth will be the same measure the Lord will use in judging you.


Certainly, you will reap what you sow.


Your style of leadership will determine whether Jesus will admit you into his kingdom as a sheep or a goat into the kingdom of darkness, satan.


Your nature will determine, and not your spoken words.


 *Peace ✌️ be with you* 


 *Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.*

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