The name of King was given to the promised Messiah when the people of Israel asked for a king! This king, first Saul and then David, was to keep in mind that he was not invested with an absolute authority, but with a ministry of service, awaiting the One who was to come to fulfill the authority of the God of Israel. This divine authority ressembles more that of a shepherd for his flock than that of a king of other peoples. Its not without any reason that the immages used in the Bible to describe the significance and the function of the kingship among the people of Israel are not taken from the thrones of kings! These serve to show how the true kingship is not to be. Jesus Himself had to say: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt. 20, 25-28).

The prophet Ezechiel presents to us God’s way with his people, an attitude of true love, that cares for all, in particular, the weak! He presents him to us with the image of the shepherd, that makes sure that the sheep are all there, that takes them to green pastures, that leads them to rest! This shepherd would not abbandon the lost sheep, but looks for it, and cares for the sick one as for the healthy and strong one. All the sheep are his: his authority is love, care and justice. He is even careful to see that no sheep is to prevail on another one! Hence God proclaim the way to guide the people, and describe the kingship of the true King, the future King!

The images used by the prophet is well know by Jesus. Today he presents "the Son of man" as a king seated on a throne that behaves like a shepherd. King and Shepherd are images that point to God himself, applied by Jesus for the Son of man. According to other gospel texts, Jesus applies this messianic title to himself. Hence in today’s gospel He presents himself with divine authority, a loving and judical authority. Even his judgement is based on love. The love among people is recognised by Jesus as an act of love for him!

Accepting Jesus as Messiah and God doesnt mean that we own one more notion, a higher knowledge, but a new way of living, of behaving like him with others, as a shepherd with his sheep! The one who accepts Jesus is to love, is to care for the weak, for the needy, the defenceless, and becomes for these the love of the Shepherd!

At the end of times we will have a judge for all our actions. He, strangely enough, shall not look for sins only God knows, but shall remember the acts of love and attention we had for those of whom he is a defender! Have we made ours his love for the lost sheep and for the weak ones, for the injured and the sick one? He shall recognise our love as if shown to him!

There are those to read in his words "the least of these my brethren" a reference to his disciples. Blessed are those, even pagans, who help persecucted christians and missionaries. This Gospel text, along with other texts, are to help us understand that Jesus wants us to be always ready, under all circumstances, to be carries of his goodness and of his kind and careful love.

We can see his words made true in the life of many saints and in that an infinite number of believers in the history of the Church. He is always the good shepherd, that at the end, as a true king, he shall judge all men, and even his disciples, on the bases of how much they have loved! Thus he shall present us to the Father, in the kingdom in which death, fruit of egoism, is won! (2^nd. Reading).