HOMILY FROM CANON STEPHEN BAILLIE
33rd Sunday of A20
A difficult sort of King
Today’s Gospel leaves us in no doubt as to what Jesus expects of his followers. It is a Gospel of contrasts. It begins with a scene of judgement, with Jesus in the role as king, sitting on the throne of glory. It would have been a familiar image to the people of the time, who were expecting a great Messianic King. In the time of Jesus, kings were powerful rulers, and some were tyrants. We know from earlier in Matthew’s Gospel that kings like Herord were capable of brutal acts. It is an image that remains familiar to us today, thanks to popular fairytales, movies and TV programmes – the all–powerful ruler sitting on their throne, passing judgement on their subjects.
But the King that Jesus talks about here turns these images upside down. He is not focused on riches or power, or inciting terror or fear. Instead, he is a fair judge, a shepherd who knows his flock.
He invites all those who have acted with justice and generosity to take their place in his kingdom. He is in solidarity with the ‘least’ of his people – a king whose main concern is those who are hungry, displaced, sick or imprisoned. He refers to them as ‘brothers’.
Jesus’ Kingdom is centred around charity, compassion and forgiveness. He expects us to treat everyone we encounter with welcome. There are simple acts of kindness we can carry out each day. Such love for others is love for God: ‘In so far as you did this to the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’
“In the evening of life, we shall be judged on love.”
St John of the Cross
