Bishop Anthony B. Taylor delivered this homily Nov. 22.
Today is the feast of Christ the King. When we think of a king, we think of a man who lives in a palace, has lots of servants, dines lavishly on the very finest foods and issues decrees that have the force of law -- when we think of a king, we think of wealth and power.
In “Camelot,” the Broadway musical from the 1960s, there is a song that asks the question, “I wonder what the king is doing tonight.” Let’s borrow that thought and ask what our King is doing today. The answer is found in today’s Gospel, where we are given a description of a very strange kind of king. Our King describes himself in terms of great need, not great wealth.
A strange kind of King: hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick and in prison. Most kings are known for their wealth; ours is known for his need. And there is another thing about him, and that is the way he works. When I think of a king, I think of power, authority, someone who issues orders and demands obedience. A king is a powerful man who can get what he wants by pushing people around. But this strange King works exclusively through volunteers. In a world that relies on coercion, he depends on persuasion. That’s the only way he works.
Wherever there is a needy person our King is not only with that person, he is that person, waiting to be helped. But we don’t have to help him, not unless we choose to -- Jesus relies exclusively on volunteers. He’s not going to force us. That choice is ours but make it carefully.
One day we will stand before him and answer to him. Surely we want to stand with those to whom he says, “Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world, I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. As often as you did it for one of the least of your brothers, you did it for me.”
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