Homily for Proper 29: Christ the King

This year, my associate priest, Rev. Donne Puckle preached last Sunday (Nov. 20, 2011). I don't have a written copy to post here; he didn't write out his homily. The following, shared for your reflection, is one of mine from 2008.
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Compassion is the law of God.

It is important that we understand the context of Ezekiel’s ministry as a prophet. He was sent by God to prophesy against Israel’s kings, who had abused their authority and exploited their subordinates. Although the prophecy is couched in a lot of metaphors, its meaning is straight forward. God will reverse the evil done by the bad human shepherds (kings, royal officials, etc). He will seek out and rescue his people from wherever they have been scattered and restore them, to Palestine; he will care for them - providing just and caring leadership.

In today’s passage from Ephesians, Paul covers a lot of territory. Given our other readings today, we need to focus on his view of God the Father giving Christ to the church as ruler over all things. The church is one in Christ and thus is able to share in Christ’s exaltation, Christ being the complete embodiment of God, who is in the process of filling (making good) all things.

Our gospel today is probably Jesus’ most pointed and powerful parable. The message is clear, what ever you do to/for the lowliest members of society, you do to Christ. And Christ will judge accordingly.

Jesus did not invent this law of compassion. God revealed it through both the prophets and the law of the old testament many generation before Jesus. The Old Testament prophets give us the fullest development and illustration of what this Divine calling is about and Ezekiel’s example today is one off the more pointed.

What Jesus did do, was extend this law from its begging as the way you relate to your own people, country men, etc.; to the way we must relate to all human beings. He extended who is covered in this Divine Law. We see this most clearly in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Today’s gospel dramatizes just how important it is in Jesus’ eyes.

As a parish there are many things we do to live out this law as a community. We support Salvation Army, the Chaplain’s Footlocker, Forgash house, CANTOR, Imago Dei and many other programs I can’t even begin to list here and now. We have also responded generously to each other when need arose. The love here is grate and it is a testimony to the authenticity of the faith we profess together.

Let us never grow tired of carrying forward God’s command to care and help.