Daily Readings - Sun Nov 26 2017
First Reading - Ezekiel 34.11-12, 15-17
Ezekiel
For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 15.20-26, 28
1 Corinthians
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Gospel - Matthew 25.31-46
Matthew
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
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.