The Last Sunday of the Church Year
Text: Matthew 25:31-46
Today draws a line in the sand, a dividing line between one Church Year and the next. Today is the last Sunday of the Church Year, and next Sunday will begin a new year for us.
The Gospel reading for today also demonstrates a clear line in the sand for God’s true Church; a judgment is coming and is revealed through the image of separating the sheep and goats of this world.
Jesus described the sheep in this way as He says,
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
But for the goats, He says,
For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
Who are you?
It’s easy to want to be an image and icon of the person Jesus describes as a sheep, but are you as humble as a sheep or as proud as a goat?
While we may get caught up in the external image of these two animals, Jesus is directing our attention to the internal nature of these two animals.
Sheep are often seen to demonstrate more innocence, humility, patience, and obedience. And they flock together. However, goats tend to be the opposite; they smell, can be fierce and quarrel, and often go alone and by doing so wander into dangerous places.
And so, who are you?
What’s pretty amazing is that the Gospel says the sheep didn’t even know they were demonstrating the characteristics of sheep as they responded to the King’s words of praise by saying, “And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?”
This brings to our mind the words of Jesus as He preached the sermon on the mount and the Christian’s care of the needy as He said, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:3)
However, the response of the goats to their King is in opposition to these words, aren’t they? The goats want the world to know what their left and right hands are doing as they responded to the King, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?”
Please don’t misunderstand me; our works are not necessarily bad in this life and world. In fact, Holy Scriptures says you cannot be a Christian without good works. St. James writes in his epistle, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:26)
Faith requires good works, but our good works flow out of a faith that demands that our left-hand doesn’t know what our right hand is doing. (Matthew 6:3)
So, what is this truly getting at? What will Jesus judge when He returns on the last day? The nature and faith of our hearts.
But did you also catch how the sheep didn’t even realize how they were caring for the King? The sheep responded to King in the gospel by saying,
And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Isn’t this beautiful? Their good works did, in fact, flow out of a pure faith that knew nothing else but to care for their neighbor. It’s just who they are. It's like a mother whose ceaseless love for a child is revealed as they nightly set out clothes for the next day, pack lunches, or give goodbye hugs and kisses as the child goes off to school.
But did you also catch this? Jesus said, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
So, who are these brothers? They are the ones whom Jesus regards as being welcomed, fed, clothed, and cared for by the sheep or rejected by the goats – they are His Disciples, His brothers.
Now, none of this is to say you are not all made brothers and sisters of Christ through the waters of Holy Baptism; you are. However, in the Gospel of Matthew, the term brothers is often reserved for Jesus' Disciples. Those whom Jesus has sent out in Matthew Chapter 10 to travel from place to place, preaching the Good News of Jesus to the “lost sheep of Israel.”
But Jesus warns His brothers that not everyone will receive them or the message they were given with hospitality or willing ears to listen. In fact, there will be days when they will be rejected, suffer harm, and remain sheep among wolves. And so, we continue to hear Jesus’ warning to His disciples today,
He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me…. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. (Matthew 10:40-42)
What is this reward but eternal life with Jesus?
For this reason, I, too, have been sent among you to bring and confess unto you God’s Word. To feed you with the flesh and blood of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. In these ways, the Holy Spirit creates and sustains a heart of innocence, humility, patience, and obedience within you. In these ways, you are made ready for the day when Christ returns and separates the sheep from the goats.
So don’t go the way of the goats, looking to yourself and your prideful works for validation. They will only lead you to quarreling, loneliness, and straying into life's dark and dangerous places – or, as Jesus says, “The way of eternal punishment.”
Instead, focus your eyes and hearts on your Savior, Jesus Christ. He is coming to judge the living and the dead just as we confess in the creeds.
But take heart: His cross will lead His sheep (you) out of this valley of tears and into His eternal kingdom to live forever. +INJ+
