Lectio Divina – Quotes related to the Solemnity of Christ the King

Mt 25:31-46, Christ the King

St. Jerome (340/2-420): He who was within two days to celebrate the Passover, to be delivered to the cross, and mocked by men, fitly now holds out the glory of His triumph, that He may overbalance the offences that were to follow by the promise of reward. And it is to be noted, that He who shall be seen in majesty is the Son of Man.

Origen (182-253/4): Or, we need not understand this of a local gathering together, but that the nations shall be no more dispersed in various and false dogmas concerning Him. For Christ’s divinity shall be manifested so that not even sinners shall any longer be ignorant of Him. He shall not then show Himself as Son of God in one place and not in another; as He sought to express to us by the comparison of the lightning. So as long as the wicked know neither themselves nor Christ, or the righteous “see through a glass darkly,” (1 Cor. 13:12) so long the good are not separated from the evil, but when by the manifestation of the Son of God all shall come to the knowledge of Him, then shall the Saviour divide the good from the evil; for then shall sinners see their sins, and the righteous shall see clearly to what end the seeds of righteousness in them have led. They that are saved are called sheep by reason of that mildness which they have learnt of Him who said, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly,” (Matt 11:29) and because they are ready to go even to death in imitation of Christ, who “was led as a sheep to the slaughter.” (Isa 53:7) The wicked are called goats, because they climb rough and rugged rocks, and walk in dangerous places.

Gloss., non occ.: Under the figure of a sheep in Scripture is signified simplicity and innocence. Beautifully then in this place are the elect denoted by sheep.

Rabanus Maurus (c. 780-856): Mystically, He who with the bread of the word and the drink of wisdom refreshes the soul hungering and thirsting after righteousness, or admits into the home of our mother the Church him who is wandering in heresy or sin, or who strengthens the weak in faith, such a one discharges the obligations of true love.

When they say, “”Lord, when saw we you?” they say it not because they distrust the Lord’s words, but they are in amazement at so great exaltation, and at the greatness of their own glory; or because the good which they have done will seem to them to be so small in comparison, according to the saying of the Apostle, “For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18).

Origen (182-253/4): It should be remarked, that though He had said to the Saints, “Ye blessed of my Father,” He says not now, “Ye cursed of my Father,” because of all blessing the Father is the author, but each man is the origin of his own curse.