THY KINGDOM COME

November 23, 2014

Pentecost Last

Ezekiel 34:11-16

Matthew 25:31-46

(prayer)

The realm of a God is like a grand wedding banquet where some wise bridesmaid's lit the way for the groom.

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The realm of God is like an unbelievable bonus that an investor receives for exceeding expectations.

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When Jesus taught about the Realm of God (Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew), he spoke in parables: stories filled with day-to-day images and metaphors. Today, we finished reading chapter 25 from Matthew's gospel.  The explicit story is a king sitting in judgment over his people. The image in the story is that of a shepherd dividing a flock between sheeps and goats. 

Now, I am no rancher, but I know enough that goats and sheeps are completely different species of animals.
The might be similar in size; it's possible that a shepherd could have animals with similar coloured coats, but - really - how hard can it be to figure out which ones are sheep and which ones are goats.

It seems to me that Jesus wants his audience to be thinking that this is not a very complicated sorting.  This parable is about the king making what should be some 'no-brainer' judgments.

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As with the other two Matthew kingdom-choice parables, I believe that Jesus wanted his hears (and Matthew wanted his readers) to see themselves as the characters who were faced with the choices.
In parable #1, we are to imagine ourselves a bridesmaid; in #2, we are to wonder what we would do with the master's money; today we are to see ourselves as one of the king's people who has been put into one of two groups - are we sheep or goats?

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Let's imagine what it would be like to be divided in this way.  It reminds of some of the early rounds of a competition reality show (like American Idol), where the judges would call to the stage a group of half a dozen - have a few of them step forward and then announce that either the front row or the back row was moving on and the other group was eliminated.  Until the announcement is made, people don't know what the result of the sorting is.

I imagine that there would be whispered-converstions within the groups: 
·     Do you know what's going on?

·     What do these groups for?

·     Hey, how come Joe and I are in different groups?

I imagine, although from the throne that the sorting was an easy task, that among the sorted, the situation wasn't so clear.

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Then the king explains things: "Everyone in your group has something in common.  You (on right), when I was hungry, you fed me; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; you welcomed me even when you didn't know who I was; when I was sick you cared for me; you gave me clothes when I was not dressed; when I was not able to move about freely, you visited me." 
"Now you (on left), when I was in need you just ignored me."

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"Now, wait a second", said someone from the second group, "you're the king - I never saw you in need.  And if I had, I never, never would have ignored you!  You're the king!  I'd have to be stupid not to help you when you need it.  With all due respect, you've made a mistake.  I don't know about anyone else, but I'm in the wrong group."

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In group number one, I imagine the comments were whispered under the breath more than yelled outloud: "Do you know what the king is talking about?  Did you do any of those things?  I don’t think I did.  I think I'm in the wrong group."

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After the murmurs settled down, the voice from the thrown made it clear - "When you did this to anyone - especially the weak and vulnerable, it was like you were doing it for me."

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So that was the division: one group was made up of people who showed compassion for the benefit of others; and the other group only showed compassion when it would benefit themselves, if at all.

Another way of saying this is that when we are dominated by our selfish choices and our greed, we find ourselves blocked from knowing God in our midst.  It was the prophet Micah who reminded us that one of God's expectations of us is that we will nurture our spirits in an atmosphere of humility.

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I don't know if Jesus could make it any more clear - how we care and who we care for, matters.

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The prophet Ezekiel was among the exiles who were forcibly moved from Judea to Babylon in the 7th century BCE.
After centuries of stability for Jerusalem and the people of Judea, it all came crashing down as the Babylonian Empire annexed their homeland.  The people felt that they had lost everything... including their God.  Into that dispair, Ezekiel promises them that God has not given up on them.  Like a good shepherd who searches high and low for lost sheep.  God will find them - even in Babylon and heal and strengthen them.

There is another section in Ezekiel where the prophet envisions seeing the Spirit of God rising out of the ruins of the Jerusalem Temple and traveling over the wilderness to join the people in Babylon.

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When Ezekiel speaks negatively about the fat and strong sheep, he (like Jesus) seems to be referencing selfish greed.  Imagine, most of the flock growing weak with hunger, which a privileged few, hoard what is available for themselves.

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The Realm of God (The Kingdom of Heaven) is where the lost are found, the weak and; vulnerable are cared for, and where selfish greed has no place.

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Matthew wants the early church to hear Jesus saying that to be part of the realm of God, you chose to be aware of the moment you are in and what is needed to move you into the future; the church is to chose risking engagement in the world so that faith can be known and grown; and people of faith will not ignore the needs of the weak and vulnerable: people of faith will care beyond themselves as a natural and normal act.

One thing I notice about these parables is that they call for wise and just choices... now.  Aspects of the Realm of God, that Jesus describes, are supposed to be known... now.

Virtually every Sunday here at St. David's, we include in our service prayers a special prayer recorded Matthew, chapter six - commonly called The Lord's Prayer:

Our father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven... (NRSV)

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Hear again is that promise about the Realm of God:

"Your kingdom come... on earth! Your will, God, is that this be done."

The Realm of God is more than a heavenly hope.  It is a present mission.  Your kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven.

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Today's parable gives us hints on how to make know God on earth - work for the dignity and safety and health of all - whether the need be food or drink or clothing or... ; treat strangers like friends (and they will become our neighbours and kin); be open to the changing face of our communities; and when there are people who find themselves isolated (by illness, or by prison
wall, or simply because they are lost) don't forget them - go to them - remind them that they are more than their illness or their past actions.

When we do this, we are helping usher in the Realm of God - we are highlighting the Holy within our midst.

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Later... when we pray, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven", let's be
mindful that we are not just praying for God to act - we are encouraging ourselves to act.

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Let us pray:

Holy God, we pray that we may be instruments of your peace; where there is injury, may we bring healing; where there is despair, may we bring hope; where there is darkness, may we shine your light.  Following Jesus, we pray, Amen.

#210VU  “Christus Paradox (You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd)"