“Come, O blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”.
Today’s gospel reading is the last of three parable teachings about the kingdom of heaven contained in chapter 25 of Matthew’s gospel.
Your recall the first parable relates to the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins. There Christ reminds us to watch as we know neither the day nor the hour of his second coming. The second parable relates to the talents. There Christ tells us to use our talents for the benefit of our fellow man. It doesn’t matter if you have all skills, abilities, wealth and knowledge, if you only use them for yourself then you are a wicked and slothful person and condemned by your failure to care for your fellow man. In both of these parables there is separation by man from Christ. In each parable it is the person through the exercise of their free will who chooses not to concern themselves or ignore the plight of their fellow human being. It is their choice thus that condemns them.
Today’s reading focuses upon the second coming and how our actions will save or condemn us. From the outset it is important to understand that it is our actions that are judged. As Christ says in chapter 5 of John’s gospel “I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgement is just”.
Christ informs that all the peoples – both Jewish and gentile – will be gathered and separated. They will be classified, depending upon their actions, either as sheep or goats. The sheep to his right hand side and into eternal life and the goats to his left hand and into eternal punishment. In using the words sheep and goats Christ is sending a very clear message to us. You will recall from chapter 16 of Leviticus that each year a goat was sent into the wilderness as atonement for the sins of the people. This is where the origins of scapegoat comes from: namely one being sacrificed for many. Goats were looked on as being inferior to sheep. On the other hand, Christ, in John’s gospel, viewed himself a Shepherd and the door of his sheep who called his sheep by name. Further, Christ asked Peter three times after his resurrection to feed his sheep. Accordingly, we should strive to be classified as sheep and not as goats, as sheep are in Christ and goats are not.
How are the goats separated from the sheep? The answer is clear. The sheep are the ones that responded to the stranger in tending to their needs whatever they may they. As Christ said “truly, I say to you, as you give it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”. Christ identified aspects of ministry to our fellow beings as being in fact done in love for him. This brings to mind the golden rule given by Christ as a way of living as Christians in Luke’s gospel namely “and as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them” and to love your enemies and do good expecting nothing in return.
So, what is the sin of the goats? The goats are supremely indifferent to their fellow man and to their needs whatever they may be. Indeed, Christ chastises them by saying “depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels”. The goats committed the supreme sin of not caring and being self absorbed. Indifference is the underlying basis of virtually all sin. You cannot worship Christ without loving him first and you cannot love him if you do not follow him. And you cannot follow him if you have yourself as the centre of your life.
Indifference is a deadening of the spirit. It is a gateway to despair and gives birth to lack of regard for the other. As we are reminded in the book of Revelation, indifference is something repulsive to the Lord. One thing that you cannot do as a Christian is to be indifferent. Christ calls you to be committed to him. As he says in Chapter 11 of Luke’s gospel “he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters”. Thus the fruit of indifference is eternal damnation which fruit is picked by hand of those that are indifferent to the other.
How can we profit from this reading? It occurs to me that there are a number of ways we can do so. You will recall that Paul’s letter to the Ephesians states “for by Grace you have been saved through faith; this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God” and further “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”. In other words both faith and works are needed and both of these are subsumed by Grace. To emphasise the point the Epistle of James also calls upon the believer to do good works, as faith without works is barren. Therefore, we need to remind ourselves that whatever we do for our fellow man we do it as an expression of our love for God. Faith in God demands that we love our neighbour – whoever that may be, and love them in practical ways that meet their needs. Further, we do works not expecting a reward but because such works demonstrate the outpouring and overflowing of the love that we have for God within us. God is not an accountant. He does not tally good works as you and I tally our bank balances. God looks for a contrite heart as that demonstrates a willingness to be considered as a rational sheep rather than as a goat. Remember it is by Grace that we are saved and not by the justification for our works.
Ultimately, we can do no more than to follow Christ during our lifetime. If we live our lives as true Christians then we can earnestly hope to be saved. As we are about to enter the Lenten season let us reflect upon the awesomeness of the sacrifice of Christ and remind ourselves that for our salvation we can do no more than be ready for the coming of the Lord whenever that day or hour may be. Amen.