OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
26 NOVEMBER 2023
Both those
on the Lord’s right and left side are surprised. Neither was aware of what their actions
mean. Those on the right did not
recognize the Lord when they fed the hungry, or gave drink to the thirsty, or
welcomed the stranger, or clothed the naked, or cared for the ill, or visited a
prisoner. At the end of time, they
receive a surprising judgment of praise and affirmation. Those on the left did not recognize the Lord
either. But in refusing to respond to
the needs of those who sought their help, they failed to respond to Christ. They receive a harsh judgment and are
consigned to eternal punishment, living forever in what they have failed to do.
We are the
sheep of the Lord’s flock. It might help
us understand how this parable applies to us if we look at the Greek words for
“sheep” and “goats.” The Greek word that
is translated as “sheep” can mean any small grazing animal, even small
cattle. The Greek word that is
translated as “goat” is the diminutive of a Greek word “wool,” as in “little
wooly creatures.” They are less
desirable, because they are not fully grown or have not reached their full
potential. The parable challenges us to
behave like fully mature sheep of the Lord’s flock and recognize the Lord in
the people we serve. We cannot be one of
the little wooly creatures who care only about ourselves and our own welfare
and ignore the needs of others.
Jesus
invites us to grow in maturity as sheep of his flock. Over the years, I have grown in understanding
my role as a sheep called to serve the needs of others. When I was first ordained, I served as an
Associate at Saint Matthew Cathedral, where there were lots of people in need
in that neighborhood. One homeless man
kept coming to the side door and asking for the young priest. He did not want to see Bishop Crowley, the
pastor, who clearly had his number! I
would always give him cash, because I did not want to be one of those goats
going to hell for failing to recognize Jesus Christ in him. One day while visiting Memorial Hospital, I
heard him yelling for the “young priest” to come to his room. He had a few of his toes amputated, because
he had turned my gift into alcohol and fallen asleep outside in the cold,
freezing his toes. Instead of being a
fully-grown sheep, I was for him an enabling wooly creature.
Our parish
offers many opportunities to be mature sheep and practice the corporal works of
mercy. You can make casseroles for the
Homeless Shelter to feed the hungry. Or
you can join the Saint Vincent de Paul Society or bring food for their
pantry. The refugee resettlement program
can always use more volunteers. Or you
can be a minister of hospitality and welcome the stranger coming to Mass. Our giving tree program provides
clothing. We have many parish outreach
programs for the sick and homebound. Our
new prison ministry program is getting off to a good start. Over time, the Church has added a seventh
corporal work of mercy – burying the dead.
Our bereavement ministry can always use more help. There are many local opportunities to become
personally involved in serving the poor.
Some
generous parishioners have donated stained glass windows to be placed in the
three rose windows of the church. The
rose window in the nave will depict the Beatitudes from Saint Matthew’s
Gospel. The seven corporal works of
mercy will be in the window on one of the transepts, with the seven spiritual
works of mercy on the other side. That
window will be a constant reminder that we must continue to become more mature
sheep, mindful that in serving those in need, we are serving Jesus Christ
himself. It will also remind us that we
must become more aware and receptive to the day-to-day needs of those around
us. If we form a pattern of dying to
ourselves and responding to their needs, however big or small, we will avoid
being those little wooly creatures who spend eternity stuck on themselves.
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