Open Wednesday … Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, A

1.  I increased the size of the letters in the title to indicate the importance of this Feast!  "Pull out all stops" in preparing to celebrate the Feast of Jesus our King.  ("Pulling out the stops" is what an organist does to maximize the sound.   :) 
     It is interesting to note the three distinct depictions of Jesus as King in the three year cycle of the Lectionary.  [Explain to students how the Sunday Readings have a three-year cycle  (A, B and C), and a two-year cycle in the daily Readings (I and II).]   We are concluding cycle A.  In cycle A, Jesus is depicted  as the King Who comes in glory to honor those who live a life of service to the poor and needy.  In cycle B, Jesus is before Pilate who questions Jesus about being king of the Jews (John 18:33-37).   In cycle C, Jesus is on the Cross; the inscription above Jesus' head sarcastically states, "This is the king of the Jews."  Jesus' throne is the Cross, and for a crown, Jesus wears twisted thorns with His own blood forming the  jewels.  (Luke 23:35-43)

2.  Explain the liturgical year to your students and how the Solemnity of Christ the
King is the glorious culmination of all our celebrations throughout the year.  This is the last of the Gospel Readings from Matthew, and next Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, we will hear from Mark.   This page will have more on the liturgical year next Sunday.

3.  Let me say something about the selections for the two Readings, Psalm and
Gospel for Sundays.  The Gospel sets the theme, and the First Reading is chosen to correspond in theme with the Gospel.  The Psalm bridges the First Reading and Gospel.  The Second Readings, during Ordinary Time, are semi-continuous passages read over successive Sundays to offer a more thorough penetration into Paul and other authors of the Epistles.   For feasts and seasons, however, the Second Readings reflect the main theme being celebrated.   --From The Sunday Lectionary, Ritual Word, Paschal Shape, by Normand Bonneau, The Liturgical Press, pp. 45.

4.  In the Second Reading, Paul answers the objections some of the believers in
Corinth have to the resurrection of the body (1 Cor 15:12-19).  Paul's response--which we will hear Sunday--about the resurrection in the End Times is appropriate to the conclusion of the liturgical year.  The Coming of Jesus corresponds with the Gospel imagery of Jesus enthroned.   John J. Pilch points out another correspondence between Paul and the Gospel.   Both selections are concerned with the body: in Paul, the resurrection of the body, and in Matthew, the care (feeding and clothing) of the poor.   --The Cultural World of the Apostles, John J. Pilch, The Liturgical Press,
pp. 126.

5.  The First Reading from the prophet Ezekiel evokes the image of the Good
Shepherd.  You may wish to read with your students  The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Mt  18:12-14); read also John 10:14-18 in which Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd.   During a prayer time read slowly Psalm 23.

6.  The First Reading begins with the 11th verse of the 34th chapter of Ezekiel.  Older students may want to read the opening verses of this chapter in which the Lord--through Ezekiel--chastises the priests of Israel for "scattering the flock."  The First Reading is in contrast to the miserable behavior of the priests.  Our Lord will come and personally shepherd the flock. 
     The last sentence of the First Reading is echoed in  the Gospel: "As for you, My sheep, says the Lord God, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats." 
     Have you ever been dissatisfied with someone else's work and you say, "I'll do it myself"?  Or recall the story of The Little Red Hen who did all the work herself to make the bread when the dog, cat and pig wouldn't help her.  (I hope I have the characters right.)  In Ezekiel 34, God gave the priests their job, and when they messed it up, God says He'll do it Himself.   
      P.S.  Since God is spirit, God is beyond gender.  When referring to God, I do try to avoid the masculine pronoun.  This time, however, I could not write a pleasing sentence without using the masculine pronoun.  The use of the masculine pronoun represents the limitation of the English language and not a limiting theology.

7.  I live in an area where my Protestant brethren teach that the sole condition of
salvation is to accept Jesus as your personal Savior.  From the Gospel, what do you hear is necessary for salvation?   Let me quote from Dennis Hamm (Let the Scriptures Speak, Cycle A, The Liturgical Press, pp. 121): "… the sole condition of judgment is how they have treated needy persons--those who are hungry, thirsty, estranged, naked, ill or imprisoned.  The final shocking surprise is that the king has taken such treatment, be it aid or neglect, personally."
     There is debate among scholars about the identity of the "assembled" and the "least brothers": Jews, believers, Gentiles, all?  But for our purposes, consider the "assembled" to be all, and the "least" to be anyone who is poor and needy.  (Twenty years from now I would be proud if a Scripture scholar said he/she received inspiration for his/her calling from Open Wednesday.  Could that be you?  If so, study languages and history now)

8.  Prepare to hear the Gospel specifically by planning good works for the poor and needy, either by personal contact or by giving/raising money.  However, with young children, I think it is sufficient to encourage a hands-on good work even if it is not specifically for a needy group.  Encourage what might be called small good works: the many small kindnesses we can perform

as we go through our day.  Let the children prepare a jeweled garland for the King of kings by stringing dime-store beads on a thread or wire; each jewel represents a kind act.  Or make paper crowns and draw or paste a jewel on the crown to represent good acts.  Be careful using beads in the presence of toddlers.
     I believe it was St. Teresa of Calcutta who said the loneliness is the great poverty in the United States.    Visit an elderly neighbor; make cards to distribute in a nursing home, etc.

9.  Prepare a formal family dinner for Saturday or Sunday.  Set an extra place for Jesus.  Drape Jesus' chair with gold and/or crimson. 

10.  In Biblical times--as well as  now--shepherds of mixed flocks of goat and sheep separate them in the evening, sheep sleep in the open, while goats are sheltered.   According to John J. Pilch (The Cultural Dictionary of the Bible, Liturgical Press, pp. 135-140), in the mid-East, sheep are associated with the core value of honor and goats with the core value of shame.  As we close the liturgical year with the analogy of the sheep and the goats, think back on the Gospel Readings we have heard concerning the sorting out during divine judgment: wheat vs chaff, wheat vs weeds, those with wedding garments/oil vs those without, and last week's Parable of the Talents.  All these stories culminate in the story of the sheep and the goats: those with a heart to serve the poor and those who care not.  Which are you?  You have the opportunity with this Sunday's Gospel to make a life-choice. 
     Make  your choice as a family, and then celebrate your choice with a dinner fit for a king!  Next Sunday is called a feast day … so have a feast.  Invite the King!