A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 6, n. 52)
Christ the King, Year A – November 23, 2008
“I Will Tend My Sheep”
BIBLE READINGS
Ez 34:11-12, 15-17 // I Cor 15:20-26, 28 // Mt 25:31-46
(N.B. Series 6 of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY includes a prayerful study of the Sunday liturgy of Year A from the perspective of the First Reading. For another set of reflections on the Sunday liturgy of Year A, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US and open Series 3.)
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
The last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year concludes with the solemn feast of Christ the King, whose compassionate heart and sacrificial stance is that of the “Good Shepherd”. The fascinating Gospel scenario of the last judgment (cf. Mt 25:31-46) acquires greater depth and meaning against the backdrop of the Old Testament reading concerning the shepherd of Israel and his flock (Ez 34:11-12, 15-17).
The prophet-priest Ezekiel lived in Babylon during the period before and after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. His message was addressed both to his disheartened co-exiles in Babylon and to the distraught people left in Jerusalem. Ezekiel emphasized the need for inner renewal of the heart and spirit, and the responsibility of each individual for his own sins. Moreover, he also proclaimed his hope for the renewal of the life of the nation. (Cf. Introduction to the Book of Ezekiel in the Good News Bible)
In Ezekiel 34:1-10, we read the prophet’s stinging words of indictment against the false leaders of Israel who had failed in their responsibility for God’s people. These leaders sought their own political agenda and personal gain and did not care for the sheep, which were dispersed, alienated and killed by enemies. The political and religious catastrophes experienced by Israel, especially the Babylonian conquest and exile, were proof of their utter neglect. Ezekiel’s prophecy, however, counterpoints the element of judgment and indictment hurled against the false leaders with a message of hope and consolation from the compassionate Lord God (cf. Ez. 34:11-16). God himself would shepherd Israel and heal the wounds and misery inflicted on his people by bad rulers and imperious foreign invaders. Under the staff of God, the benevolent Shepherd, a happy future is possible for the distressed and grieving people!
The authors of the Days of the Lord, vol. 4, comment: “In civilizations and cultures where pastoral experience is strong, the metaphor of shepherd is very rich. This is the case in the Bible. Shepherds exercise an undisputed authority over their flock, but at the same time they are very close to their sheep, surround them with care and thoughtfulness, know whether each one of the ewes is doing well or not, drive them with much prudence. This is why the Bible compares leaders of the people, kings, and even God, to shepherds. The passage from the Book of Ezekiel, read this year for the feast of Christ, the King of the universe, belongs to this tradition (Ez 34:11-12, 15-17) … God does not entrust to others the care of the flock he owns; like a good shepherd, he himself looks after it … God, the Good Shepherd, will intervene to maintain order in his flock. He will not allow the weak to be bullied by the strong; he will push these away in order to protect the more vulnerable.”
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we are confronted with the solemn image of Jesus Christ, the Shepherd-King, coming in glory and acting as judge. Having carried out his paschal sacrifice on the cross and in laying down his life for the sheep, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Father’s saving plan on behalf of his beloved people. In today’s feast of Christ the King-Shepherd, the Christian disciples, configured into his image as Good Shepherd through baptism, are being challenged anew to face their tremendous responsibility to be “shepherds” in his name. As judge at the end time, Jesus will welcome into his kingdom those who – with the heart of the Good Shepherd – had cared for God’s people. Indeed, the “Christians” in the modern world have greater accountability and responsibility to present the pastoral image of Jesus Christ to the anguished society of today. Thus Christians will be judged on what they do or fail to do to extend the compassionate care of Jesus, the Shepherd-King, to the hungry in need of nourishment, to the thirsty crying out for life-giving drink, to the stranger yearning for welcome, to the naked who long to be clothed, to the sick praying for tender care, to the prisoners alienated from the society, etc.
At the end of the liturgical year, let us examine ourselves on how we have participated through the various seasons of grace in the infinite, formative movement of humankind and creation in Christ. Let us meditate on the goodness of the Master-Shepherd and his sacrificial love for us so that we may respond with greater love and compassion to his special “presence” in the weak, the needy and the most vulnerable of today’s society. Jesus identified himself with all who need to be served. Indeed, whatever we do to the “least” of our brothers and sisters, we do to Jesus himself. Mother Teresa of Calcutta asserted: “If sometimes our poor people have had to die of starvation, it is not because God did not care for them, but because you and I did not give, were not instruments of love in the hands of God, to give them that bread, to give them that clothing; because we did not recognize Christ, when once more Christ came in distressing disguise.”
The following poem, entitled “Indifference” by G.A. Studdart-Kennedy (in Redemption: An Anthology of the Cross, ed. George Stewart, New York: Doran Co., 1927), is intense and haunting. In the midst of today’s apathy and indifference, Christ the King-Shepherd is willing to suffer anew the trauma of Calvary and release more intensely the saving energy of his death on the cross.
When Jesus came to Golgotha they hung him on a tree.
They drove great nails through hands and feet, and made a Calvary.
They crowned him with a crown of thorns.
Red were his wounds and deep,
for those were crude and cruel days,
and human flesh was cheap.
When Jesus came to our small town they simply passed him by.
They never hurt a hair of him; they only let him die.
For men had grown more tender,
and they would not give him pain.
They only just passed down the street,
and left him in the rain.
Still Jesus cried, “Forgive them, for they do know not what they do.”
And still it rained the winter rain that drenched him through and through.
The crowds went home and left the streets without a soul to see.
And Jesus crouched against a wall and cried for Calvary.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
How does Ezekiel’s picture of God as the true shepherd of the sheep impact you? Are you heartened by the promise: “The lost I will seek out … the injured I will bind up … the sick I will heal…” (Ez 34:16)?
Why is Jesus Christ the radical fulfillment of God’s promise to shepherd his flock? How do we incarnate in our daily lives the compassionate care of Jesus, the Shepherd-King?
Are we guilty of being indifferent and negligent “shepherds” of God’s flock? In today’s society, what do we do to prevent the strong from oppressing the weak and the rich from exploiting the poor? Do we engage in corporal works of mercy and thus help to hasten the advent of God’s kingdom on earth?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Loving Father,
at the end of the liturgical year,
we gaze upon the splendid scene of Jesus, the Shepherd-King,
in his glorious role as judge of the world.
In order that the judgment day be for us an occasion of grace,
teach us not to be indifferent to the world’s afflictions.
Do not allow us to ignore the needs of the world’s poor.
Do not let us close our hearts to the cry of the “anawim”
and the pleas of the weak.
By the waters of baptism,
you have configured us into the image of your Son, the Good Shepherd.
May we be faithful to our vocation to be “shepherds”.
Like Jesus, may we be filled with your life-giving Spirit
and become true shepherds of your people.
Grant us the grace
to extend the compassionate care of Jesus, the Shepherd-King,
to the hungry in need of nourishment,
to the thirsty crying out for life-giving drink,
to the stranger yearning for welcome,
to the naked who long to be clothed,
to the sick praying for tender care,
to the prisoners alienated from the society,
and to the entire flock, especially the least of our brothers and sisters.
Loving Father,
we thank you for the manifold graces given us through this liturgical year.
Help us to respond fully
to the infinite, formative movement of humanity and creation,
in the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We glorify you and bless you,
now and forever.
Assembly: Amen
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“I myself will look after and tend my sheep.” (Ez 34:11)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
ACTION PLAN: Pray for the Christian disciples of today that they may mirror more limpidly the face of Jesus, the Shepherd-King. Endeavor to carry out the Church’s works of mercy and thus help promote the advent of God’s reign upon earth.
ACTION PLAN: That we may offer more effectively the compassionate care of the Shepherd-King, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR: A Weekly Pastoral Tool (Year A, vol. 4, #52).
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US