Don't miss John J. Pilch's article about the Historical Cultural Context of this week's gospel text at St Louis University's Center For Liturgy site for Christ the King Sunday. Pilch provides background on the honor and shame aspects ot this text, the theme of sheep & goats, ingroup and outgroup, and hospitality.
"Ultimately, in the Middle Eastern view, it boils down to a matter of honor. Any Middle Easterner—Israelite, Christian, pagan—is expected to treat strangers hospitably. Whoever does so has treated Jesus hospitably and will enjoy companionship with God in the kingdom. How can a contemporary believer translate this into American culture where honor does not count for very much?"