There is an old Irish legend that goes back to the time when kings ruled Ireland. It seems that the reigning king had no children to succeed him on the throne. So, he had his messengers post signs in every town and village of his kingdom inviting young men to apply for an interview with the king. This way, the king hoped to be able to choose a successor before he died. Two qualities were stressed. The person must have a deep love for God and for his neighbour. The young man, around whom the legend centres, saw one of the signs. He, indeed, had a deep love for God and neighbour. He felt an inner voice telling him to apply for an interview. But the young man was so poor that he didn’t have decent clothes to wear to an interview. He also had no money to buy provisions for the long journey to the king’s castle. So, after praying over the matter, he decided to beg for the clothes and the provisions he needed. When everything was ready, he set out. After a month of travel, he arrived at the king’s castle as he caught sight of the castle, he also caught sight of a poor old beggar sitting by the side of the road. The beggar held out his hands and pleaded for help. I’m hungry and cold, he said in a weak voice. Could you give me something warm to wear and something nourishing to eat? The young man was moved by the sight of the beggar. He stripped off his warm outer clothes and exchanged them for the tattered old coat of the beggar. He also gave the beggar most of the provisions he had been carrying in his backpack for the return journey. Then, somewhat uncertainly, he walked into the castle in tattered clothes and without enough food for his return journey. When the young man arrived at the castle, guards met him at the gate. They took him to the visitors’ area. After a long wait, the young man was led in to see the king. He bowed low before the throne. When he straightened up, the young man could hardly believe his eyes. He said to the king, you were the beggar outside the castle. That’s right said the king. Why’d you do this to me asked the young man? I had to find out, said the king, if you really did love God and neighbour. Today we celebrate the fesat of Christ the king, he is a King but his kingdom is not of this world. He is a king who is not ashamed to knock on our door. He is not ashamed to beg. In the gospel we read about the last judgement. It is a challenging text, but it is also a beautiful invitation. We will be judged at the end of life on how well we served Christ the King in the least of our brothers and sisters. Jesus will say to me I was hungry and you gave me to eat, or I was hungry and you did not give me to eat. Will I stand in the line if the saved or the condemned? Its my choice. A choice I make every day with my kindness, or my lack of kindness, The question is: do I recognise Jesus in the least of my brothers and sisters? In this covid world we are living in today, so many people out there are hungry and thirsty for our kindness, for our time, for a word of our appreciation, for a word of encouragment and hope, for patience, for a helping hand and there are so many good people out there who are stepping up to the challenge. Am I stepping up to the challenge? We must never forget it is Jesus who is asking for our help and time. I’m not sure if I will ever get to heaven, but if I do, I will hear these beautiful words of Jesus ‘Whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters you did to me.