Matthew 25:31-46 is Jesus' vision of the judgment. We do not like to think about uneasy things like people being sorted out in the end, but it is promised. When we read the Gospels, and especially the parables of the Kingdom, we tend to put ourselves in the story, and usually in the most flattering roles in the parables, but this vision of a promised judgment throws some of our assumptions into question.
It is not those who worship, praise and tithe who are lifted up.
It is not those who were most pure and holy who are considered sheep.
It is not those who are identified by their zealous insistence on keeping the holiness code who are saved.
It is, as Jesus said it is, those who have shared AGAPE (active commitment on behalf of the other, especially here "the least" among us).
The sheep are those who have not created, exploited, ignored or actively sought to hurt "the least" - those of lowest standing or power in our society, but have helped them.
Jesus is very serious about this, and not just here in Matthew. Here, however, Jesus claims that He identifies with THE LEAST, and not the rich or powerful who have created, exploited, ignored and hurt them. "As you have done it to one of the least of these, my sisters and brothers, you have done it to ME."
If we hate, ignore or refuse to help them, we are in fact refusing Jesus. If we are creating, exploiting or doing actions that hurt them or make them vulnerable, we are doing that to Jesus, Himself. I get the sense here that Jesus does not like that.
So, the call and mission of the followers of Jesus is to live this Agape Love. It is not a "feeling" love, but one of commitment, self-sacrifice and unconditional connection with our focus on "the other", especially "the least" here.
If you want to please Jesus, follow Jesus, serve Jesus you must go where Jesus leads you. If we want to please Jesus, follow Jesus and serve Jesus, we must...
FEED THE HUNGRY (and perhaps work toward everyone having enough so no one is hungry)
SATISFY THE THIRSTY (making sure there is drinkable water for everyone would be good)
WELCOME THE STRANGER (yes, the resident immigrants in our land about to be deported)
CLOTHE THE NAKED (those who have had everything stripped from them by our economy)
CARE FOR THE SICK (offering healthcare to everyone who is sick makes sense here)
VISIT THE IMPRISONED (work toward a justice system that is just for all, imprisons few)
It is in how we treat the MOST VULNERABLE among us that we live the Agape commanded by Jesus, or we do not.
You can claim the name, give thanks and praise, worship, tithe and be as pure and holy as you want and STILL be a goat, according to Jesus.
I find it fascinating how things have not changed over the centuries.
Not even mentioning the prophets of old who were ridiculed, ignored, silenced or killed...
Jesus declared that the political and economic empire of Rome and the corrupt power and wealth of the Temple Cult was against God's Kingdom values here, and He was soon arrested, tried and executed.
Dr. King spoke, wrote, demonstrated and fought for equal rights in our society for a number of years, and it was when he launched the POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, calling for an end to a system that kept the powerful wealthy and the poor out, that he was assassinated.
(As an aside - Dr. Cornell West has been largely ignored since going after the systems that hold people down, out and back politically and economically, and Bernie Sanders was held out as the nominee for the Presidency by the very party within which he ran, in their primary, for doing the same thing.)
Yes, things have not changed much over the centuries.
Power and Wealth are still the objects of devotion for many, and God's Kingdom values are still very different from the ruthless acquisition of power and wealth. A whole lotta good, "Christian" folk think they are among the sheep now in our society, but as someone once said (Matthew 22:14), "Many are called, but few are chosen."
So, sheep or goat?
Pastor Jamie
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