On Smelling Like the Sheep: Homily for the Feast of Christ the King

 

26 November 2023

Ez 34:11-12; 15-17

Ps 23

1 Cor 15:20-26, 28

Mt 25: 31-46

 

We are now entering the season of Handel's "Messiah." It will be performed well and it will be performed poorly many times during the coming weeks.  Boston Baroque, a group I've heard perform Messiah many times over the past 30 years,

will perform it magnificently.  The libretto of Messiah, arranged by Charles Jennens, is taken entirely from scripture. It includes verses from the second reading.

 

"Since by man came death" is sung a capella in a somber key.  And then the chorus and orchestra explode with joy as they proclaim, "By man came also the resurrection of the dead."  The man by whom came death was Adam who would not submit to God's will in obedience. The man by whom came the resurrection of the dead was Jesus, like us in all things but sin,  whose obedience to the Father's will was perfect. 

 

Jesus is the good shepherd who leads the flock to restful waters, and guides it in right paths.  He is King of the universe for as long as the universe continues to exist and will remain King when the universe as it is known ceases to exist.  Jesus reigns above all things for all time and beyond the eventual end of time.  Jesus is the shepherd-king who judges the world and all its peoples. 

 

The Feast of Christ the King is a fairly new one in the history of the Church. It was promulgated by Pope Pius XI  only in 1925.  Originally celebrated on the last Sunday in October, it was moved to the last Sunday of the Church year in 1969.

Next Sunday, with images of shepherd and king echoing in our memories we will observe the First Sunday of Advent and begin a new liturgical year.  We will be

advised to remain watchful and alert.  The  images in today's readings  are those of comfort and judgment, of punishment and reward. They are worth considering closely.

 

Unfortunately, we hear only disconnected verses from the 34th Chapter of Ezekiel. The entire chapter should be read by all politicians, leaders, teachers,

and anyone else in a position of authority.  Most particularly it should be read by priests and clergy. The second verse gives the context: The Lord said:  “Ah, you shepherds of Israel, who have been tending yourselves! Is it not the flock that the shepherds ought to tend?"

 

One of Pope Francis' most famous early remarks was, Priests should be ‘shepherds living with the smell of the sheep.’  That smell only sticks when a priest, a physician, a senator, a governor, or a president remains down with the sheep rather than being insulated by layers of others to do the dirty work.  In this context, the words, "but the sleek and the strong I will destroy" make sense.  The sleek and the strong are the rulers, the "alpha sheep" who, upon attaining power, destroy or waste what they don't want. 

 

Later in the same chapter of Ezekiel we hear the harsh condemnation

of shepherds and leaders who take care only of themselves. "Is it not enough for you to graze on choice grazing ground, . . .  must you also trample with your feet

what is left from your grazing? . . .Must my flock graze on what your feet have trampled?"  After reading Ezekiel one can see the roots of Jesus' words in the Gospel.

 

The image in the Gospel is that of the shepherd-king, who must now cull his flock.  The determining factors between punishment and reward,

are the two great and inseparable commandments:

 

Love of God

Love of Neighbor.

 

When did I see you hungry, thirsty, tired, stranded, broke, sorrowing, ill? 

Fill in your own words.  Rework this gospel to fit today.

 

When we allow ourselves to smell like the sheep for whom we are caring, when we are down and dirty rather than appearing in the kind of white construction helmet beloved of presidents, helmets that are useful only for photo ops, we will be counted among the righteous. We will be counted among those who, to paraphrase St. Francis of Assisi, preached the gospel without necessarily using words. And we will take our place with great joy at the King's right.

 

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Photos taken on a particularly magnificent Saturday afternoon in July 2014 in Lyon, France, a most beautiful city.  The Jesuit community was a very short walk to Old City.  Lyon is an ancient city and was the see for St. Irenaeus as bishop  

One of the many many outdoor cafes scattered throughout the city

The Church of St. Georges is in the foreground.  All Masses are Tidentine Rite.  The church at the top of the hill is the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere.  Our community was just 50 yards from the end of the bridge on the right of the photo.

An outdoor market

A small cafe just across the street from the door to our community.

Fr. Jack, SJ, MD