The Message, November 26, 2023: "Being Sheep," Matthew 25:31-46

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
November 28, 2023

 

“Being Sheep”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Matthew 25:31-36

            It used to be that one could title a message or sermon “Being Sheep” without worrying about the associated implications. Sadly, that is no longer the case. In our superheated, politically divisive world, the phrase “Being Sheep” is a disparaging comment implying that the target of the phrase is a mindless follower of their leader or candidate of choice. In the world of political rhetoric, there is nothing godly in the use of the phrase, “being sheep.”

            But we are here to return the phrase to its proper place in our lives and in our world. Clearly, according to Jesus, we should be sheep.

            Our passage this morning is the conclusion of Jesus’ teaching ministry. These are the final words of his last discourse. This is the culmination, the climax. Jesus walked through the countryside teaching, preaching and healing for three years, and it all led to this moment.

            As we know, Jesus’ teaching ministry began on a certain slope beside the Sea of Galilee. The opening words of the Sermon on the Mount laid the foundation for all of the teaching that would follow.
            “Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
He said:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 5:1-16)

            The Beatitudes and our identification as the ‘Salt of the Earth’ and the ‘Light of the World’ find their fruition in Jesus’ final lesson. In the beginning of his ministry, Jesus said, “This is who you are. This is what you do.” And at the end he asks, “Did you do it? Did you do what I asked you to do?”

            As always, Jesus used a very common and familiar image … the sheep and the goats. The image is less familiar to our ears and our lives … unless there are any sheep or goat herders with us this morning. Jesus’ listeners were familiar with the care of sheep and goats. In their lives, they knew that sheep and goats often grazed together. They also would have known that sheep and goats had to be divided at the end of the day. As the cool night air moved in, the goats had to be brought into a shelter because they did not have as much wool as the sheep. The goats needed to be kept warm at night. Dividing the sheep and goats was a daily task for the ancient farmer.

            Something that we may see as a cute illustration on the cover of a worship bulletin, or as an adorable children’s message, was very clear to the First Century listener. Jesus changed the framework of their understanding of judgment. The belief had always been that the people and the nations would be judged based upon how they had treated the People of Israel. But with this lesson, we learn that we the nations … we the people … ALL the people … will be judged based upon how we treat the least among us.

            And although this lesson is typically interpreted as the Final Judgment at the End of Days, Jesus is saying that this judgment is something that happens every day. Just as the sheep and goats are divided at the end of every day, so too are we judged by how we live each day.

            Once again, let us review the teaching content of this final discourse.

            When Jesus was presented with a coin with Caesar’s likeness on it, he was asked, “What do we give to Caesar?” Jesus answered, “We give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and we give to God what is God’s.” And when we consider the question, ‘what do we give to God?’ the answer was that we give everything to God who created everything … including our whole selves.

            What is the Greatest of Primary Commandment? Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and soul, and mind. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourselves. Love your neighbors with ALL of our hearts and souls and minds. Love our neighbors at all times and in all places.

            And then we heard the parable of the ten bridesmaids and the lesson was … be ready, be vigilant, be prepared. We know not when the bridegroom will arrive, so always be ready. Live faithfully. Study God’s Word and offer prayer at all times, and be thankful in all circumstances.

            And then the final question … “Did you do it?” Did we do it? Did we do what Jesus instructed us to do?

            Interestingly enough, the disparaging nature of the phrase “Being Sheep” actually applies to our lesson this morning. We should not necessarily be seen as mindless followers of our “leader,” but we should follow the teachings of Jesus Christ without even thinking about them. They should be so ingrained into the core and fiber of our being that we just do them mindlessly … effortlessly … without consideration or hesitation.

            In fact, Jesus’ criticism of the goats was based upon the notion of having to “think” about it. When the goats said, “Oh Jesus, IF ONLY WE HAD KNOWN IT WAS YOU, we surely would have done those things that you ask of us.”

            That is precisely the point. You should not have to do the mental or ethical calculus. You should not have to do the math. “If I am kind or loving in this situation, what is in it for me? Oh … if I help this person, I will be in God’s good graces, I will earn God’s favor.”

            The sheep and the goats were all in the dark. When Jesus spoke to them in this story, neither group knew that the ‘least among us’ was in fact Jesus himself. The sheep did not have any additional insight that the goats were lacking. The sheep simply cared for those who were needy because that is what they do. The good do good because they are good. Just as an apple tree grows apples and a pear tree grows pears. “Good” people do good.

            The faithful and the righteous, those who love God and their neighbors as themselves love and serve simply because that is what they do. Those who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, visit the lonely, give aid to the sick, care for the vulnerable do so because they cannot NOT do so.

            At the end of the day, at the end of every day, Jesus asks us, “Did you love? Did you serve? Did you care for the least among us?”

            As we prepare to enter into the season of Advent, which is in itself a season of preparation, we enter with Jesus’ final lesson on our hearts and minds. In the midst of party planning and gift shopping, we must be ready … aware … mindful …

            As we light the candle of Hope … may we be mindful of those who are hopeless. May we be mindful of the lost, the lonely, those whose spirits are broken.

            As we light the candle of Peace … may we be mindful of those whose lives are devastated by warfare and violence of every sort and manifestation.

            As we light the candle of Joy … may we be mindful of those who are grieving, those who struggle with hunger, homelessness, and poverty.

            As we light the candle of Love … may we be mindful of those who have been told that they are unworthy, undeserving of love … or even basic human kindness and compassion.

            And as we light the Christ candle … may we be mindful of the ways that we have lived as Jesus called us to live. Let us be mindful that Jesus told us that we are light … the light of the world, no less.

            Yes … BE sheep. Love God and love your neighbors without thought or hesitation. May our hearts love as Jesus calls us to love. And may we shine with the light of God.

            BE sheep in a world that needs sheep desperately. Amen.

BACK