Have you ever been at a meeting that lacked a clear agenda and was poorly run? Out of frustration did you want to say, “Who’s in charge here?” That might be a question we could put to Ezekiel in today’s first reading. Can you sense the background out of which he is writing? He makes reference to strayed, injured, wounded and sick sheep. References to sheep in the Old Testament are usually symbols for the people of Israel. Things sound chaotic for them and perhaps they too would like to raise the question, “Who’s in charge here?”
Ezekiel was a prophet during the Babylonian exile. Israel’s kings had been corrupt, incompetent and precipitated the nation’ s collapse under the Babylonians. The leaders of Israel were supposed to be good shepherds who protected, led and defended the people–and they failed. They took care of themselves and neglected the people’s welfare.
Wouldn’t it be a different kind of world if all the rulers and leaders of the nations saw their role as “shepherd-rulers,” like those idealized in the Scriptures? They wouldn’t amass power and wealth for themselves. They would always have the interest of the people, especially the most vulnerable, as their prime concern. That would require great humility wouldn’t it? Not a virtue that wins political debates or prestige among the world’s powerful.
Ezekiel was called to criticize Israel’s shepherds for their excesses and failures towards the flock. God, speaking through the prophet, condemns Israel’s leaders. Looking around at the people’s condition we too might ask Ezekiel, “Who’s in charge here?” His answer — “God is.” Count the number of “I” statements in the reading. (I count eleven.) God is clearly going to do what Israel’s so-called shepherds did not do. God will shepherd the scattered, dismayed and defeated flock.
What good news Ezekiel’s prophecy must’ve been to the exiled Israelites! While God is angry at their failed leaders, God will come as a compassionate Shepherd to attend God’s flock. The exiles couldn’t help but hear that their Shepherd was not only going to tend their wounds, but would lead them from their exile back home to Israel and there continue to care for them. As for the “rams and goats,” the false leaders, God will see to them, “I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.” We can see why this reading was selected to go with today’s gospel which depicts the Shepherd who would come to judge and separate the sheep from the goats.
In Jesus, God’s promise to shepherd the needy flock was fulfilled. He was the good Shepherd who searched for the lost sheep to carry them back to the flock. He said that he would lay down his life for his sheep — and he did. Today we celebrate Jesus’ rule in our lives, for he is our Shepherd-King and in him evil will be destroyed and God’s reign will be complete.
Death is no friend to us humans. While it might bring an end to a pain-filled life, still it is not the “blessing” some people call it. Death shatters, separates and presses down on our lives. With the death of someone we love we make adjustments to carry on and do our best to return to some semblance of normality. But had death not intruded, like a sneak thief, we wouldn’t have had to “carry on” or had to “make the best of things.” What gives us hope and vision in the face of death is our belief in the resurrection.
In First Corinthians Paul has been addressing those who deny the resurrection. They can admit to Jesus’ resurrection, but are having trouble linking it to their own. In chapter 15 he is announcing Christ as the conqueror of death. (Hence the choice of this reading for the feast of Christ the King.) Paul tells us Christ has conquered all evil powers — “every authority and power.” Today’s second reading is Paul’s way of describing what is to come. But he also reminds us that the kingdom has already come with Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
When Christ returns the kingdom will have come in its completeness and “everything will be subjected to Christ.” So, as powerful as death is and contrary to appearances, Paul reminds us death does not have the last word. In the light of Christ we can face death and rise to glory with him.
A key image for Christ in the early church was as the Good Shepherd. One of earliest artistic representation of Christ was that of a young shepherd carrying a lamb on his shoulder. That was fitting since Christ has fulfilled God’s anticipated coming to shepherd the people — as Ezekiel tells us today. During the first centuries of Christianity countless martyrs died for their faith, sustained by Christ their Shepherd.
After the Roman Emperor Constantine converted (early 4th century, the exact date is disputed), he declared Christianity to be the religion of the Roman Empire. Finally the Roman persecution against the church was over and, as a result, the church’s influence spread throughout the Empire.
But power and influence also had a corroding effect on the church as it took on the trappings and structure of the Empire. The popular image of Christ changed from the Shepherd to the King, with scepter, crown and throne. There is nothing wrong with worshiping Christ as our King. But we remember that in the gospels Jesus proclaimed his kingship in terms of service. He never described prerogatives similar to those claimed by the rulers of the world who “lord it over” others. He told his disciples at the Last Supper (John 13ff.) that they must follow him by serving others.
As always, we keep ourselves rooted in the gospel and focus our gaze on the King in whose dominion we are subjects. Today’s gospel tells us what priorities the king’s servants are to have and how we are to live — feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and visiting prisoners.
In earthly kingdoms those closest to the throne are the ones with influence on the world stage, come from the highest echelons of society, or have performed heroic deeds in battle. But those welcomed by Christ into his kingdom are acknowledged for heroic and mighty deeds of a different kind. Christ the King identifies with them because they mirrored his life by caring for the least of his sisters and brothers.
Notice how expansive and inclusive the judgment scene is. “… all the nations will be assembled before him.” In Scripture “the nations” refers to the whole world. Into Christ’s kingdom will come people from the four corners of the earth. We might have too narrow a perspective of who is part of the kingdom, limiting membership to the church and those people who believe as we do. The parable is not so limiting: people will be invited in who didn’t even recognize Christ in the needy they served. They just helped and aided those whom they saw with eyes of compassion.
All are called into God’s kingdom. According to this parable the kingdom is present whenever people act lovingly towards others. Among those in the kingdom, some of us are called to be more visible signs of Christ in the world. These are members of the church; those who profess faith in Christ. But note the parable: we will have no claim on Christ our King if we fail to live the reality of the kingdom as concrete signs of Christ’s presence in the world.
Christ is already in our midst and him we serve. To him we have given obedience, service, loyalty and love, for he is our King. At this Eucharist our shepherd King gathers us from far, sees our hungers and prepares a banquet at his table for us. Once nourished we will leave to again be servants of Christ in his kingdom.