Feast of Christ the King

This weekend Catholics celebrated the Feast of Christ the King which is the last Sunday before Advent begins.  The reading from Matthew’s Gospel leads us to focus on the positive things that we can do.

Then the King will say to the good people on his right, 

‘Come. My Father has given you his blessing. Come and receive the kingdom God has prepared for you since the world was made.  

I was hungry, and you gave me food. 

I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. 

I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.  

I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. 

I was sick, and you cared for me. 

I was in prison, and you visited me.

Then the good people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? 

When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?  

When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? 

When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 

When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth. Anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’

Which reminds me of a Christmas story that I once heard. I do not know if this is a true story but there is a lot of truth in this story.

A family with three children headed across town for sport. On returning home after a comfortable win they all observed how ill equipped the opposition were;  mismatched equipment, sharing and swapping of protective clothing, older hand me down uniforms etc.

Anyway in the fullness of their busy lives Christmas arrived and after the wondrous joy of opening presents and sharing hugs they turned to the tree and there pinned among the tinsel was an envelope. The dad had made a donation from the family to that sports club to buy some new equipment.

And so a tradition was born and each Christmas an envelope would appear and a donation would be made. In time that donation became almost as important as the gifts and hugs.

Sadly though, after a short illness the dad passed away.

And that Christmas there was just a little less joy in the wonder of the gift giving and the hugs. When it was all done the family turned to the tree where dad’s envelope had always been.  In its place were four envelopes.