Nov. 23 Ezek. 34, Mt. 25:31-46
The last two weeks, we had parables that would delight political conservatives. The bridesmaids don't share their oil, and last week the shrewd investors got praised by the stern rich man on a trip. We come this morning to the favorite biblical quote for politically liberal, charitable Christians. This is a parable, so it is designed to move us out of our usual thought world.I rather doubt if it is a ethical prescription any more than the previous stories we read of the kingdom of heaven.
Here the big surprise is seeing or not seeing Jesus in our actions. Neither group saw Jesus.
When are they separated; when are they together? Who are the least: are h they those in need, or or they the disciple of Jesus, the little ones? Act like what you are-act like who you have become Act out of intrinsic good, not for benefit of who sees it-not for the hope of heaven, not for the fear of punishment. Who are the nations, all or within the church Gentile and Jew alike? Grasping one’s membership,one citizenship in God’s country, God’s way is to be good and to do good without seeking recognition,reward or punishment.It is a a wayof being in this world.
In Ezekiel, God feels sorry for the lean sheep being pushed around by the fat sheep. God sees that as a failure in being a shepherd, so things are going to change. The choir has sung a psalm that fit this reading. After the election, we can see it as a public judgement of the shepherding done by political representatives/ Ezekiel new ruler, he does not use the word king any more perhaps had messianic hopes built into it.In this prophetic work, it is clear what the measure of public justice is. It should be to limit the scope of the need for private charity.Ebenezer Scrooge would not need to get a goose for the Cratchits if he paid a livable wage in the first place. Further Ezekiel goes after the fat tough sheep who not only push around the little ones but they muddy, no they foul the water that is to be shared, the water for the other s who need a drink,.The public dimension of this is obvious. Economists try to pretty it up by calling it externality. Thi is a clarion call for community of care across the board. I shudder to think of God’s justice when we are asked about a generation’s worth of ignoring the needs of the mentally ill, especially those who need to be committed. God is furious that the political leaders have failed the people repeatedly. I tremble since the word pastor refers to a shepherd. God is also furious at how the members of the community, the flock behave. God is angry at how the fat and strong sheep act. This time, God’s pasture is justice-I will feed them with justice. It is crystal clear in the bile that a measure of justice is how the poor and vulnerable are treated. Justice is a collective, structural, social condition, equal protection of the laws, the 14th Amendment calls it. Here, justice means that the need for charity decreases.
The mark of character is how one acts when no one is watching. It isthe idea of what happends in Vegas stays in Vegas.Here the mark of Christian character is how do we act if we do not seeJesus among us? Better put, when do we see Jesus constantly among us?
When were sheep and goats separated? Often were in the same flocks-sometimes they were separated at grazing time.By and large, thesheepand goatslive together. If separation is to be done,God does it, notus.
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