A WORD FROM THE PASTOR

Are We Prepared To Answer “Yes” To The King’s Six Questions?

In the parable about the separation of the sheep from the goats at the Last Judgment, Jesus reminds us to get ready to answer “yes” to his six questions based on our corporal and spiritual acts of mercy.  “I was hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick, imprisoned; did you help me?”  When God threatens us with punishment or the withholding of rewards, it is his way of motivating us to do what he wants us to do, just as mature parents have always done. We are reminded that when we care for the hungry, thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned, we are actually taking care of Jesus who lives behind the faces of these people.

St Theresa of Calcutta explains that they are, "hungry, not only for bread, but hungry for love; naked not only for clothing, but for human dignity and respect; homeless not only for want of a room of bricks, but homeless because of rejection.  This is Christ in distressing disguise." Jesus lives within these hurting people, behind their eyes, their tears, and their pain. All the Sacraments and prayers in the Church are meant to make us truly compassionate on each other and towards all and so make us eligible to be rewarded on the day of the Last Judgment.

When we reflect the Gospel from the modern context, there is an important message we need to learn from it: Terrorism has affected the entire world. The Kingdom of Christ is under attack by Satan's terrorists.  These terrorists continue to engage in a frontal attack on the modern family by making the evils of abortion, same-sex marriage, cohabitation, and all kinds of greedy exploitation seem “normal” and palatable by means of provocative television shows, movies, internet sites, dance, dress, speech and music. The whole of this campaign is designed and intended to eradicate any recognition of Jesus Christ as our King and Lord.  Hence, Jesus the King wants us to be prepared and be ready to fight against the enemy. 

Through Baptism, all of us are called to become dynamic members and to bear committed, active witness to the Kingdom, thereby uniting our forces in order to remedy the decline of religious belief and the erosion of morality in the world.  Thus, and only thus, will the Kingdom of Christ come to reign in the hearts of all peoples.  The battlefield is the home, the school, the place of employment, the neighborhood, and the parish.  These   provide new and exciting challenges to stand up for what is right and new opportunities for  defending the truth of Jesus Christ our King by living lives of Christian virtue, love and service. As we are ending this liturgical year let us continue to pray that we may receive and be transformed by Jesus’ presence and his grace.