Sunday, November 22, 2026 · Year A
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
The King who is found in the least
On the last Sunday of the Church year, Christ the King comes to judge the nations. He tells us where to find him now: in the hungry, the stranger, the sick and the prisoner.
The Readings
- First Reading Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
- Responsorial Psalm Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
- Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
- Gospel Matthew 25:31-46
Open the readings on USCCB.org →
First Reading Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
God promises to shepherd his people himself: to seek the lost, bind up the injured and judge with justice.
Psalm Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd. With him I lack nothing, even in the dark valley.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Christ is the first fruits of the resurrection. In the end he will hand over the Kingdom to the Father, so that God may be all in all.
Gospel Matthew 25:31-46
The King separates the sheep from the goats. Whatever we did for the least of his brothers and sisters, we did for him.
Step Into the Story
Ezekiel was a priest taken to Babylon with the first exiles in 597 BC. In chapter 34 he speaks against Israel's kings, shepherds who fed themselves and let the flock scatter, and he carries God's promise: "I myself will look after my sheep." In Jesus, that promise comes true. Matthew 25 is the last teaching Jesus gives before his Passion.
In 1925, as secularism and dictatorships spread, Pope Pius XI instituted this feast with the encyclical Quas Primas, reminding the world that Christ reigns over every heart and nation. After Vatican II it was placed on the last Sunday of the Church year as "Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe."
Meet Christ
Picture the scene at the end of history: every nation gathered, and the King on his throne. Then the surprise. He does not ask about our titles or achievements. He asks about a cup of water, a coat, a visit to a hospital or a jail. "You did it for me."
This King has nail marks in his hands. He rules from a cross, and he hides himself in the poor, the sick and the forgotten so that we can serve him every day. His heart is a shepherd's heart: he goes looking for the lost, and he asks us to go with him.
This week, perform one corporal work of mercy deliberately for Christ. Before you begin, whisper, "Lord, I know it is you."
The Church Teaches
- 75·Jesus called Lord
- 110·Christ, Lord of the whole world
- 112·Christ the Judge
- 520·“Thy kingdom come”
Jesus Is Lord
To call Jesus "Lord" is to confess that he is divine (CCC 446-449). He reigns as Lord of the cosmos and of history (CCC 668).
Christ the Judge
Christ acquired the right to judge by his Cross (CCC 679). At the Last Judgment he identifies himself with the poor and needy (CCC 1039).
To Reign Is to Serve
The King of the universe made himself the servant of all. For the Christian, "to reign is to serve him," especially in the poor and the suffering (CCC 786).
Works of Mercy
This week, perform one corporal work of mercy, such as feeding the hungry or visiting the sick (CCC 2447), knowingly for Christ.
Journal Prompts
Is Christ really the King of my life, or more like a trusted adviser I consult when convenient?
Where have I failed to recognize Christ in someone this month?
Which of the works of mercy comes easily to me, and which do I avoid?
What part of my life have I not yet let him rule?
Talk to God
Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, reign in my heart. Open my eyes to see You in the hungry, the stranger and the sick, and make me Your servant there. Amen.