The Message, November 17, 2024: "Are You the GOAT?" Matthew 25:31-46

Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
November 19, 2024

 

“Are You The GOAT?”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Matthew 25:31-46

            I have always been very competitive. When I was in school, I got good grades … partly because I was competing with my classmates. I did not just want to get good grades, I wanted to get the BEST grades in the class. When the class received our tests or papers back from the teacher, I would always look around to see if I was Number One.

            (Sadly, I did NOT graduate number one in my close. I was not number two either … But that is a story for another day.)

            My competitive nature has not always served me well. When I was in seminary, the church that I attended had a gymnasium. I started a Tuesday night volleyball game. It was a lot of fun, but I noticed that some of the folks stopped attending. Eventually, I asked one of them and she said, “You are too competitive. It is scary.”

            Unfortunately, my competitive nature has also reared its ugly head in my ministry. I am embarrassed to admit that early on in my ministry I had forgotten about Jesus’ teachings about humility and service, and about those who with to be great. Early on, I wanted “my” church to be the best church!

            Obviously, it was time to reevaluate. Time to dial it back.

            In our current vernacular, the term “goat” has nothing at all to do with the beloved farm animals or the very popular yoga partners. In our minds, “GOAT” means the “The Greatest Of All Time.” Tom Brady is the GOAT. Michael Jordan is the GOAT. I was the GOAT (in my own mind)!

            Also, in our current understanding of the world, the term “sheep” has come to be a derogatory reference. A “sheep” is a mindless, spineless follower. Typically, in today’s usage we do not think of the sheep of the field, or the sheep of God’s flock, when we hear it. To be a “sheep” is an insult.

            At this point, I should say that despite my starting point, the story of the sheep and the goats is not really about sheep and goats. But you know that. Jesus simply used them as a metaphor that his listeners would have been familiar with. They reality is that this is the only time that Jesus actually mentions goats in his teaching.

            However, having said that, there are a couple of characteristics about sheep and goats … other than the listener’s familiarity … that made them good subject matter for this metaphor. First … it was difficult to tell sheep from goats from their appearance. Sheep in warmer climates do have the fluffy coats that cooler climate sheep have. The one sure way was to look at their tails; goat tails are shorter and typically stick up, sheep tails are a little longer and hang down. But the second trait was more relevant. Shepherds did have to separate the sheep and the goats at night. Sheep were more hardy, especially when they had their winter wool, and they could stay in the fields overnight. Goats’ coats were not as think and they needed the warmth and shelter of the barn at night.

            With the basis of the metaphor in place, we can move on to understand the message that Jesus was teaching. What does Jesus require of us?

            This passage comes at the end of a long discourse in which Jesus criticized and denounced his own people, and in particular their supposed leaders, for their failure to live and love as God’s people should. At the beginning of this discourse, Jesus was asked by one of the lawyers, the teachers of the Law, about the greatest commandment. And we know very well how Jesus answered. We have touched upon this repeatedly in Jesus’ teaching on the meaning of discipleship.

            Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

            Jesus was clear. On the Day of Judgment, it will not matter how much knowledge we have obtained, how much money we have made, how much fame we have acquired, or how much power and influence we have wielded. What WILL matter is how much we helped, how much we have given. What does matter is how much we care for one another.

            Jesus is saying, “Do the things that I asked you to do. Follow my Way. Love God and love one another. Do this and you will live. Do this and your neighbor will live too.”

            Now, scholars and commentators spend a lot of time in their books and journal articles talking about who Jesus is referring to when he said, “the nations.” Was he talking about ALL people? Or was he just referring to the Gentiles, or the pagans? And when he was talking about “the little ones” or the “least of these” was he about the ways that they treat the followers of Jesus? Or was he talking literally about the least among us, the most vulnerable?

            Despite my competitive spirit, I would in no way consider myself a scholar. But, from where I sit and view the world, I would opt for the more universal understanding. The “nations” refers to all people, and the “little ones” refers to the needy and the vulnerable.

            That is why Jesus’ statement was about basic, life-sustaining, life-giving acts. “‘For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” (Matthew 25:35-36)

            These are the things that we all need to live … food, drink, clothing, care, compassion, community, connection. And these are all things that we can offer in some way. Providing for the basic needs of our neighbors in something that we can all participate in.

            Whether you can donate a million dollars to your church or a local charitable organization, or simply offer a hug to someone who is having a tough time; whether you can purchase a new van for the food pantry to make deliveries, or you bring a can of corn; whether you volunteer at the nursing home doing visitation, or send a card to a shut-in, we can all care for the “little ones” … the “least of these.”

            One final thought … did you notice that both the “sheep” and the “goats” were surprised by their judgment? Did you notice that the “sheep” did not realize that they were the sheep, and that the “goats” did not realize that they were the goats?

            This revelation brings us back to Jesus’ teaching on genuine piety, genuine faithfulness. Those with faithful hearts love and help because that is what they do. That is who they are. The “sheep” … the faithful … the righteous … do not think about whether or not they will offer help.

            They do not consider the cost or the potential reward for loving.
            They do not help or offer mercy because they think that they will earn bonus points with God
            They love because that is part of their DNA. They love because they have God at the center of their lives.
            The righteous do not have to think about it, plan it, strategize it. They just do it.

            Way back in the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus insists that our righteousness must EXCEED that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. (Matthew 5:17-19) He rejects being called “Lord” by those who do not follow what he says. (7:21-29)

            That is our call. That is who we are. That is what we do.

            There are plenty of people whose acts of “kindness” are performative. They do it to display to all who can see how “good” they are.

            There are plenty of people whose acts of “compassion” are transactional. They truly hope to receive some benefit from what they did.

            There are plenty of people who do not love their neighbors because they do not believe that their neighbors deserve their love. There are those who do not love because they believe that the vulnerable deserve the circumstances that they find themselves in. “It’s their own fault. Why should I help?”

            There are plenty of those who do consider themselves to be “Greatest Christian of All Time,” but sadly have corrupted and manipulated the words of teachings of Jesus into something that Jesus would not recognize.

            That is not who we are. That is not what we do.

            God loves us beyond measure, and we love God with all that we are. God’s blessings overflow in their abundance, and we give all that we are. That is what and who Jesus call us to do and be. Amen.

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