Daily Readings - Sun Nov 26 2017
Ezekiel
11"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.12As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.17"As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats.
1 Corinthians
20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Matthew
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?'40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'44Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?'45Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s love, care, and ultimate judgment. In Ezekiel, we hear the Lord describe Himself as a shepherd who seeks out His scattered flock, heals the broken, and strengthens the weak. This passage reminds us of God’s deep concern for His people and His desire to restore and protect them. In 1 Corinthians, St. Paul explains the victory of Christ over death and sin, emphasizing that through Adam, death came into the world, but through Christ, all will be brought to life. This passage underscores the hope of resurrection and the ultimate triumph of God over all evil. Finally, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus describes the final judgment, where He separates the sheep from the goats based on how they treated the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned. Those who served the least among them served Christ Himself, while those who neglected them are separated from eternal life.
These readings are deeply connected. Ezekiel’s image of the shepherd sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the Good Shepherd who seeks and saves the lost. Paul’s teaching on the resurrection highlights the ultimate purpose of God’s plan—to bring all things under Christ’s authority. Matthew’s parable then calls us to live in a way that reflects this reality, recognizing that our actions toward others are actions toward Christ. Together, these readings remind us that God’s love is both merciful and just, and that our response to His love is lived out in how we care for one another.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are challenged to see Christ in every person we meet, especially in those who are most vulnerable. The moral lesson is clear: our faith is not just about words or beliefs but about how we live out our love for God and neighbor. Let us ask ourselves: Do we treat others with the same care and compassion that God shows us? Do we recognize the dignity of every person as a child of God? Let us strive to live in a way that reflects the love of the Good Shepherd, knowing that our ultimate judgment will depend on how we have loved and served one another. May we embrace the call to be instruments of God’s mercy and love in the world.