The days of
this week celebrate the Resurrection of our Divine Lord and Baptism into new
life, yet the Entrance Antiphon for today is not related primarily to Baptism
or the Resurrection, but is instead taken from the account Jesus gives of the
Last Judgment in the Gospel of Matthew. Nevertheless, there is no disconnect in
the choice of this passage by Holy Mother Church from the mysteries we are
celebrating. Instead, in Her infinite wisdom, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, this selection raises us up to contemplation of the plan, decreed by
God from eternity.
Christ was
born on account of our salvation. The angel told Joseph, the husband of Mary,
in his dream that, “He [Jesus] will save his people from their sins (Matthew
1:21).” This is the reason for the very name of “Jesus,” for it means “God
saves." Jesus was completely conscious of this mission throughout His earthly life, as we see from His words to the elders in the Temple, when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:46-49). From the first moment of His public life, this mission was proclaimed, for St. John the Baptist cried out, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)" when he saw Jesus approaching for baptism.
Yet, the mission of Christ was not simply to cleanse us from sin, but to bring us into new life, which we have mentioned continuously through these days, and to inaugurate a new kingdom, the Kingdom of His Father! And we are not simply to enter into this kingdom, but we are to be "enthroned" in it! The second reading from the Office of Readings on Holy Saturday said it so eloquently, "The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven." Through Baptism, when we were made adopted sons and daughters of God the Father, we became sharers in Christ's inherited role of Priest, Prophet, and King.
St. Paul says, "If [we are] children, then [we are] heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17)." The kingship of Christ was displayed first upon the Cross; at the end of the world it will be displayed in glory. As inheritors of that kingship, we must then first suffer, "the royal road of the Cross (Thomas
Á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)," then we shall be able to inherit the glory of Jesus, our King.
Jesus Himself speaks of what this glory will be like in the Gospel of Matthew when He speaks of the coming of the Son of Man at the end of the world (Matthew 24-25). But let us look specifically at His directives for those who wish to inherit the Kingdom. He gives the corporal works of mercy as the basis, and from these are derived the spiritual works of mercy as well. To receive a favorable judgment on the Last Day, one must feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison (Matthew 25:34-36).
Through our Baptism, we have been called to this, for these works are part of the new life we have received. As we noted, the greatest gift of our new life is the love God has bestowed upon us, but this love must overflow in charity. This is the very basis of the love of the Cross we spoke of during the Holy Triduum! If we are to participate in Jesus Christ's kingship, we must participate in the love of the Cross!
During this Easter Octave, and throughout this season, and even the rest of our lives, let us not shirk this charity we must have for our neighbor. It is part of the basis of the Kingdom of Heaven, which we even now begin to live. Instead let us continue the almsgiving which we began during Lent, so that when we do reach the end of our lives and stand on the verge of the eternal Easter, we may hear the words of the Entrance Antiphon, "Come, you blessed of my Father; receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34)." Then, we will sing the eternal Alleluia!
Yet, the mission of Christ was not simply to cleanse us from sin, but to bring us into new life, which we have mentioned continuously through these days, and to inaugurate a new kingdom, the Kingdom of His Father! And we are not simply to enter into this kingdom, but we are to be "enthroned" in it! The second reading from the Office of Readings on Holy Saturday said it so eloquently, "The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven." Through Baptism, when we were made adopted sons and daughters of God the Father, we became sharers in Christ's inherited role of Priest, Prophet, and King.
St. Paul says, "If [we are] children, then [we are] heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17)." The kingship of Christ was displayed first upon the Cross; at the end of the world it will be displayed in glory. As inheritors of that kingship, we must then first suffer, "the royal road of the Cross (Thomas
Á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)," then we shall be able to inherit the glory of Jesus, our King.
Jesus Himself speaks of what this glory will be like in the Gospel of Matthew when He speaks of the coming of the Son of Man at the end of the world (Matthew 24-25). But let us look specifically at His directives for those who wish to inherit the Kingdom. He gives the corporal works of mercy as the basis, and from these are derived the spiritual works of mercy as well. To receive a favorable judgment on the Last Day, one must feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison (Matthew 25:34-36).
Through our Baptism, we have been called to this, for these works are part of the new life we have received. As we noted, the greatest gift of our new life is the love God has bestowed upon us, but this love must overflow in charity. This is the very basis of the love of the Cross we spoke of during the Holy Triduum! If we are to participate in Jesus Christ's kingship, we must participate in the love of the Cross!
During this Easter Octave, and throughout this season, and even the rest of our lives, let us not shirk this charity we must have for our neighbor. It is part of the basis of the Kingdom of Heaven, which we even now begin to live. Instead let us continue the almsgiving which we began during Lent, so that when we do reach the end of our lives and stand on the verge of the eternal Easter, we may hear the words of the Entrance Antiphon, "Come, you blessed of my Father; receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34)." Then, we will sing the eternal Alleluia!
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