We are progressing to the culmination of the
Christian Year. We have moved through
the seasons of Advent, Christmastide, Epiphany, Lent, Eastertide, Pentecost,
and Ordinary Time, which have ordered our days and assisted our deepening discipleship. This coming Sunday we will celebrate the
recognition of Christ as the One who will reign forever. The texts for this
Sunday offer a picture of majestic humility.
The passage from Ezekiel portrays one who
refuses to reign without exerting every effort to gather the scattered
subjects. “Now I myself will ask after
my sheep and go in search of them” (34:11b).
It is a lovely demonstration of mercy: “I will search for the lost,
recover the straggler, bandage the hurt, strengthen the sick, leave the healthy
and strong to play, and give them their proper food” (v. 16). God’s shepherd does not look kindly upon
those who have exploited the weak, and promises to judge accordingly. Those who “butt with their horns” will not be
welcome in God’s flock.
The Gospel lesson echoes the prophet’s warning,
again using pastoral images of sheep and goats. Matthew 25:31-46 offers a
vision of how God will sum up the age by dividing between those who have
participated in God’s hidden reign and those who have refused. The criterion
for inclusion is feeding the hungry, offering drink to the thirsty, welcoming
the stranger, clothing the naked, tending the ill, and visiting the prisoner
(vv. 35-36). Ministering to these is
ministering to Christ, who has so identified with the “least of these.”
I do think we make “following Jesus” an overly
complicated pursuit at times. We want to
understand mysterious sayings, such as the timeframe contained in this passage,
yet we ignore those things that are quite clear. Followers of Jesus pursue certain practices,
and these practices of mercy express the values of God’s reign.
It is also a picture of judgment, which is not a
very popular topic in many Christian circles these days. We tend to think we have unlimited time to
turn toward godly acts, and we continue in our self-absorbed patterns. Yet, God is not blind to the ways we exploit
others for personal satisfaction, and there will be an ultimate reckoning by
God’s calculus.
The humility of God’s reign is remarkable. Rather than coercing belief through displays
of sheer grandeur, God chooses to invite participation in the holy work of
mending the world, what the Jews call tikkun
olam. I trust we will find that we are blessed of God as we join in this
labor of love.
Molly T. Marshall
Central prepares women and men for seeking God, shaping church, and
serving humanity.
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