He will answer them, “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” Matthew 25:45

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the liturgical year.  We celebrate Christ our King, the King of Kings, who will judge everyone at the end of time.

The end of the Church year, the end of time, the Last Judgment, the Solemnity of Christ the King--all these themes fit together in today’s Gospel. Today's selection from the gospel of Matthew portrays Christ as a king who presides over the scene of final judgment separating the sheep from the goats. The sheep, being more valuable than goats, represent those who have been found worthy of final victory and reward.

It is interesting that not only the goats, the people who don't help others, but even the sheep, those who do help others, say that they don't remember seeing the Lord.  That's understandable. Christ is present in every aspect of our lives.  Yet we don’t always recognize him. But he is always there. We know Christ is present in the Church, in Scripture and the Eucharist.  But he is also present in the poor and the poorest of the poor, or what Mother Theresa would refer to the suffering homeless. 

Saint Mother Teresa was perhaps the foremost authority on today's gospel. Her comment on the gospel was that at the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done.  We will be judged by “I was hungry and you gave me food. I was naked and you clothed me.  I was homeless and you took me in.” Mother Theresa would go on to say, “Hungry, not only for bread, but hungry for love; naked not only for clothing, but for human dignity and respect; homeless not only for want of a room of bricks, but homeless because of rejection. This is Christ in distressing disguise.”

Christ the King of Kings comes to us in the least of our brothers and sisters.  When we stand before Christ the King seated on the Throne of Judgment how will be judged?

Blessings, 

Deacon Jack

St. Clare of Assisi

Houston, TX

I invite you to join us at St. Clare’s Eucharistic celebration: 

1) TODAY 9:00 AM (in person and livestream via facebook and our website) and 11:00 AM

2) SPECIAL APPEAL: I am asking you again for your HELP to replace our 30 year old HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) air handling system. The scope of the project is to install all new duct work and service platforms, and to bring our system up-to-code. We need to raise $350,000 by the end of January, 2021 when the project is scheduled to be completed. Surely, no gift is too big or too small, your generosity will definitely make the difference. Please make a check payable to St. Clare of Assisi, HVAC project. My deepest gratitude to you for your financial support during this difficult time, without your generosity, we won’t be able to sustain our various ministries at St. Clare. THANK YOU!

I am looking forward to welcoming y’all. Have a blessed weekend!

Air hug!

>-(^_^)-< 

and bear hug! 

>-ʕ •ₒ• ʔ-<

Fr. Vincent