Gospel for November 26 2023 – Matthew 25:31-46
Gospel Reflections for November 26 2023
Jesus the Good Shepherd King
Jesus lived at a time of great civic unrest and political turmoil.
So many people felt lost and alone and confused. How like our time today! Yet, despite the turmoil around Him, Our Lord was always loving and caring of those in need, no matter what. His love was real, practical, and empowering. This all comes together in the Gospel image of separating sheep from goats.
The First Reading sets this theme up with the image of lost sheep. The people then knew that sheep are timid and rarely get lost, while goats often wander from their flock. For any sheep to get lost, well, the shepherd must be really bad and that lost sheep especially confused!
God recognizes that the leaders of the people were so bad that He Himself will come down to shepherd His people, and especially when they are lost, confused, or frightened. That timely rescue is echoed in today’s famous 23rd Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!”
The Gospel reveals that this same Shepherd comes at the end of the world to see how we have treated those around us. How have we been shepherds to the people in our life? The powerful images and dramatic dialogue in the Gospel affirm that our love for others cannot be just beautiful words or wonderful intentions.
Our love must be real, practical, and empowering …giving food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and comforting the sick.
Every Mass ends with the words, Go, the Mass is ended, to love and serve the Lord! Today’s Gospel affirms that when we give food, water, and comfort to those in need we actually give it to Him. That simply means that when we take our abilities, talents, gifts, and resources and use them for the good of others …we are using them directly for Our Lord.
The center of the Mass is the consecration where Jesus models that practical, concrete, and real loving behavior when He says through the words of the priest: This is my Body and Blood (my entire self) and it is given for you!
Mass is designed to make that happen for you and to inspire you to live that life of love throughout the day …no matter what is going on.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
YES….We really can live just like Christ showed us even in our crazy world!
Thanks Fr. Dave
Dear Father Dave,
Your reflections on this week’s readings are powerful, especially given the horrendous hostilities in the Middle East.
Prayers to find the path to defeat this enemy of our Lord and God.
God bless you.
Kathleen
My heart has enlarged through this difficult time in Middle East. I am most grateful that some of the hostages were let go. I pray that more will be let go soon.
Christ is our King & Savior. May he rein forever.
God Bless
Pray for peace in the Holy Land!
I wonder often about the reasoning of those in the Middle East. Seems disconcerting to me
And a troubling way to live. Jesus came from that part of the world and tried to set a proper way of life of Loving your Neighbor as you love yourself.
His life and example serves to display a way of living that enables all to live in Peace. They would be much better off following His Teachings and Examples.
The Psalm this Sunday is one of my Favorites. Established Centuries Ago and still so relevant today.
It is interesting to remember that Jesus came to the Middle East when it was much worse than it is today. Another way of showing God’s courageous love for us no matter what is going on.
Beautiful words Father Dave!! We are to be Jesus in this world by living His love!!!If we all did one precious giving of love to someone everyday, we could transform our world!!! Let’s begin and fill our world with our precious jesus’ LOVE!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee all of you Father dave and beautiful friends!!!!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!