The Feast of Christ the King | Sunday 26 November 2023

Today is Sunday the 26th of November, the feast of Christ the King.

Checko Ankrah and Nicky Lathbridge sing, ‘High and Lifted’.


You are worthy to be praised
You are worthy to be praised
You are high and lifted up
You are high and lifted up
You are high and lifted up
Oh Lord
You are high and lifted up
We're surrounded by Your presence, oh God
You are high and lifted up
Your glory fills
Your glory fills the space, oh God
You are high and lifted up
I hear the sound of angels
I hear the sound of Heaven
I see Your glory fill this place, oh God
You are high, You are high and lifted up

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Today we will only hear it read once through.


Matthew 25:31-46

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’


In today’s reading, Jesus tells of when the Son of Man will come in glory, and will be seated on the throne, with angels around him, and all the Nations at his feet. How does it all sit with you after hearing it?


Were you drawn to any words or phrases in particular? Or anything you found difficult about it?

The reading presents an opportunity to focus on the invitation of Jesus to love others and to examine our hearts to notice where and how we’ve shown our love.

Listen to the questions asked in the scripture and see what comes to mind:

Lord, when did I see you hungry and give you food?
When did I offer you a cup of water?
Lord, when did I welcome you as a stranger?
When did I visit you when you were sick?
Lord, when did I give you clothing?
When did I visit you in prison?


We might recall the times when we failed to offer love when the opportunity arose.

We take time now to express any sorrow to the Lord we may feel for our failings.


We also take a moment to be joyful with the Lord for the times when we responded to the needs of others with generous love, for at these times we also loved and served the Lord himself.

Try to end this time of prayer in an attitude of quiet awe, perhaps imagining yourself kneeling with all the Nations before the Son of Man on his throne of Glory. What is it like to be here?

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.