Looking For Jesus? Go Outside!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, MN

Sunday, November 22, 2020

If you move around and ask Christians from different denominations the question “Where is Jesus?” some will tell you that Jesus is in their hearts. Others, especially Catholics will say that Jesus is in the Eucharist. Some others will say that Jesus is in the Bible. Yet, others will say he is in heaven. Yes, Jesus is present in the Eucharist, and supremely too. Yes, Jesus can be encountered when you read the Bible. Yes, Jesus lives in the hearts of those who love him. Yes, Jesus is in heaven too. But where else is the Lord? Where else can he be found and encountered? Today’s Gospel (Matt. 25:31-46) provides the answer: …I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me. Although Jesus is supremely present in the Eucharist and can be encountered in the Eucharist, he is also living on the streets. Although Jesus can be encountered when we read the Sacred Scripture, he is also in soup kitchen lines waiting to be attended to. Although Jesus is in our midst because we gathered in his name, he is also waiting at Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul and Catholic Charities offices to get a winter coat. Although Jesus is in our hearts and the hearts of all those who love him, but he is also in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes and prisons. 

Sisters and brothers, Jesus says, Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers (and sisters) of mine, you did for me. It means that wherever people are in need, Jesus is there. Wherever people suffer, Jesus is there. Wherever people are hungry and thirsty, Jesus is there. Wherever people are homeless, Jesus is there. Wherever people lack the basic necessities of life, Jesus is there. He is there comforting them; he is there suffering along with them. But He is there waiting for us to attend and care for him. He is present in the Eucharist, in the Bible, and in our midst, but he is physically present in the haves-not. Sometimes we hear people refer to the poor and destitute as “God forsaken people,” because of their poverty. But today’s Gospel tells us that they are wrong. Where is Jesus? Jesus is with the “God forsaken people.” Where is Jesus? He is with those who live on the margins of the society. Jesus is with the working poor. The working poor is the man who washes cars for others but does not own one. She is the clerk who files cancelled checks at a bank but has nothing in her bank account. He is the man who repaints the houses of others, but cannot afford to repaint his. The working poor is the man who lays new carpets for others, and after that begs the owner of the house to give him the old carpet so that he can use it at home. Where is Jesus? Jesus is with those who live in crumbling houses that are contributing to their children’s asthma. 

The Lord is calling us to pay attention to where else he can be found, encountered and attended to. Although he is present in the Eucharist, in our midst, but he is also present and can be found in the heartaches and pains that surround us. He is also present and can be encountered in those who ask us for help and attention. To those who found him there and attended to him, he would say at the end of their earthly lives, Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Our Lord is the only King who does not sit on thrones, in kingdoms and empires of this world and wait for people to come and kiss his ring. He goes rather to the slums, to the streets, and to the crumbling places of the world. He is out there in the world waiting for human contact. For care. For love. For compassion. For help.