Sunday 26th November
Ezekiel 34: 11-24
Matthew 25: 31-46
“ I was a stranger and you welcomed me …”
On Monday we visited friends in the country town of Lismore. They have a small property, the grass is long and lush, and the mowing contractor hadn’t turned up.
Our friend is keen to run a few sheep to keep the grass down. Do you know, she told us, in bible days sheep and goat were virtually identical? I didn’t know but it is very germane to this judgement parable of sheep and goats in which neither is aware of who they are serving, or ignoring.
* * * *
Christianity is the religion most concerned about beliefs and doctrines. The explosion of denominations is sad testimony to how Christians are deeply wired to judge others over doctrines. Explicit and implicit beliefs are common through all religions, but Christianity has an emphasis upon creedal beliefs, particularly those hammered out in the third and fourth centuries.
Catholic and Anglican congregations recite the Nicene or Apostles’ creed. The Uniting Church honours those creeds, but doesn’t require they be used regularly in worship. Other denominations never use the creed out loud, but these ancient doctrines play in the background of many hymns, prayers and sermons.
To cut to the chase: creeds became the thermometer for judging orthodoxy and heresy. Over time it became a touchstone that right belief was what mattered … get beliefs right and the church will be perfect!
The parable of the Great Judgement is only found in Matthew’ gospel. Like all his parables of God’s kingdom the emphasis is not beliefs, but attitudes and actions. Parables often contain surprising twists as Jesus teaches about God’s kingdom.
You have heard this parable many times. Alongside it we often sing when I needed a neighbour – and its refrain and the creed, and the colour and the name won’t matter, were you there?
In the light of the appalling treatment of refugees on Manus Island it should take our collective breath away and cause moral outrage – but most of us are silent ….
I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
* * * *
Sheep and goats often appear in both testaments. They were a mainstay of husbandry, income, food and also clothing. Jesus, you will remember, uses the metaphor of shepherding in John’s Gospel. “ I am the good shepherd and my (sheep) will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”
It has echoes of the stinging words of God through Ezekiel where the shepherds ( read political and religious leaders of Israel) are judged harshly because they have privileged the rich over the weak and the poor.
”Some of you are not satisfied with eating the best grass; you even trample down what you don’t eat! You drink the clear water and muddy what you don’t drink.”
Ezekiel evokes God’s promise of a true shepherd-king, judging that many of the shepherds of his time are self-servers, and in the shadow of judgement. It is very possible that this passage, and others like it are threads for Jesus’ parable.
Not only does it draw from Ezekiel, it also implicitly refers to the book of Daniel. You probably remember him best from the story of being in the lion’s den and also with his three friends in the fiery furnace ( sentenced to death for refusing to worship a golden idol).
It is, however, Daniel’s dreams that have so much impact over the centuries as they are interpreted as foretelling the future of great kingdoms which rise, and fall. In chapter 7 a vision of God’s throne is evoked, a judgement scene.
“ I saw one like a son of man ( a human being NRSV) coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. To him was given dominion, and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him.” (7:13-14)
The title son of man is often used by the gospellers, although it is never quite clear whether this is a direct reference to Jesus. It means simply human being. It was never used in creeds and rarely appears in hymns – but here it is at the beginning of the judgement parable. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him…”
The parable in its beginning echoes Daniels’ vision of the heavenly throne. A judgement of all nations is evoked, and there’s division between two creatures who are very alike.
The judgement concerns feeding the hungry, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, visiting prisoners – and neither sheep or goats have any awareness of what they are doing.
“ When did we see you ….?”
Biblical scholar, Robert Capon, reminds readers “That Jesus habitually avoids depicting badness as an obstacle to the Kingdom, just as he carefully steers clear of making goodness one of its entrance requirements. “ (in The Parables of Judgement).
Manses used to be a place where people who were hungry, without shelter or in need of clothing would often knock on the door with their story. For years I heard some very fanciful tales. I would groan to Rosemary – not again – which hardly put me in the welcoming flock of sheep! As I listened to their tale I honestly can’t say that I was looking for the Stranger in them, rather just deal with their issue.
In the parable the Son of man, the human being, judges between these near-identical sheep and goats on the basis of compassion.
You know of Mother Theresa who cared for the destitute and dying of India. Her motivation was that in so doing she was caring for the Stranger Christ, offering love and mercy to people who were without friends, family and future.
Benedictine monks have as one of the pillars of their Rule the priority of welcoming every person as Christ hidden in the guise of someone who needs sanctuary, help, guidance.
The paradox of Christ the King is that he is a Stranger – rejected, ignored, despised and persecuted – and we don’t welcome him because we do not see him. It’s not about getting beliefs ‘right’ but the compassion of seeing Christ in strangers.
When I needed a neighbour were we there?
and the creed and colour and the name won’t matter,
were we there?
I was a stranger …. and you welcomed me.