The 26th of November, 2023, Sunday is this year’s celebration day for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar Year 2023.
Reading 1: EZ 34:11-12, 15-17
The first reading from the Book of Ezekiel.
“‘For the Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.
As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so I will seek out my sheep. I will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.”_’_”
“‘ “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down,” says the Lord Yahweh.
“I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will feed them in justice.”_’_”
“As for you, O my flock, the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the male goats.’_”
Responsorial Psalm: PS 23:1-2A, 2B-3, 5, 6
Response: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
R: Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing.
Reading 2: 1 COR 15:20-26, 28
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep.
For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s at his coming.
Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.
Gospel of the Day: MT 25:31-46
From the gospel scripture according to Matthew.
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in.
I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me.’_”
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
When did we see you as a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’_”
“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’_”
“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’_”
“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
