Sunday, November 26, 2023

Thirty-Four Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
– Psalm 100:1-5
– Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
– Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

The liturgical color for the day is: White

This is Christ the King Sunday.  It is the final Sunday on the liturgical calendar year.  It is the final Sunday in the journey that moves through Advent’s anticipation, Christmas’ joy, Epiphany’s discovery, Lent’s reflection, Passion’s passion, Easter’s triumph, Pentecost’s power, and Ordinary Time’s growth.  It all culminates in this Sunday where we see it is all about Jesus.

It is about Christ as Lord of lords and King of kings.  And he alone is worthy.  Christ is the worthy one seated on the throne.  And his worthiness is what invites us in.  We don’t earn our way in, we don’t bargain our way in, and we don’t deserve our way in.  The worthiness of Christ is what invites us to the banquet of the Lord’s Table both in the now of the Sacrament and in the later of the great feast of the ages.

The worthwhile life is the Jesus life.  What Jesus does is love us.  He-loves-us.  The love of Jesus is so amazing that he gives up his own life for our sake.  That kind of love is a love that welcomes, it is a love that brings us back in, it is a love which holds us and allows us to be the love in this world.  We are called to each other. 

I love it that in the vision of the great judgement here in Matthew neither the sheep nor the goats are aware of the impact of their actions.  How we live when we are unaware has a direct relationship with the worthwhile life we live here and now.

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk