What really matters - Rev Allister Lane

READING: MATTHEW 25: 31-46

I don’t think this is a parable. What do you think…?

Last week we heard a parable Jesus told: the Master who took a risk and praised those slaves who were risk-takers to grow his investment in them.

What we have today is Jesus teaching more directly about himself in the heavenly realm; we are invited to ‘preview’ the way his just rule will be exercised.

This is about what really matters. What – on Judgement Day – will be examined. Jesus is saying: what matters is how we have treated others.

Whenever I preach about our actions, I always feel it is necessary to remind ourselves that our actions do not ‘manufacture’ our righteousness. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is that we are saved by grace.

So how do we understand Jesus’ teaching here that what matters is how we treat others?

What is striking in the conversation between Jesus and those who did – or didn’t – help those around them, is what they did not know:

when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?

These works of neighbourly love are not done with the intention of earning God’s favour, but done because of the person’s fundamental attitude towards the world. They are (in the language of Reformation theology) not works intended to earn justification, but are the fruits of justification. These actions are the outpouring of the believer’s love of God.

To put it another way: We serve because we’ve received God’s love already.

How do you celebrate the truth that you have received God’s love already…? How do you keep your reservoir of gratitude fresh…?

Perhaps, like me, you might find that giving thanks helps. Pausing to do a stock-take of our blessings leads to thankfulness. And all of us have blessings we can be thankful for. You don’t believe me…? Our experience of the global coronavirus pandemic is something for us to be thankful for. As is how this experience has changed us for the better. We are all a bit kinder.

And isn’t Jesus teaching us to imagine how we can be kinder to others? Jesus teaches that those who responded with kindness through loving service to others helped Jesus himself; and those who did NOT respond with loving service to human need turned their back on Jesus (in the guise of the needy).

When each and every person is made in the image of God, then that good part in us that impels us to loving action, is God’s image in us shining through. Each time we deny another person, we not only refuse to allow God’s image to shine through our actions, but we also tragically fail to recognise the image of God in that other person.

There are immediate implications of such a strong solidarity dynamic. We are relating to Jesus when helping those in need – whoever they are. If this understanding is correct, we can have greater confidence in interacting positively with those of other faiths, and of no faith.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote:

Jesus is the Word - to be spoken.
Jesus is the truth - to be told.
Jesus is the light - to be lit.
Jesus is the joy - to be shared.
Jesus is the peace - to be given.
Jesus is the naked - to be clothed.
Jesus is the homeless - to be taken in.
Jesus is the sick - to be healed.
Jesus is the lonely - to be befriended.
Jesus is the unwanted - to be wanted.
Jesus is the prisoner to be visited, 
but above all
Jesus is Love - to be revealed.

This week I can tell you I felt guilty. I felt guilty when I walked past the person begging outside New World. I couldn’t look him in the eye. Do you ever have such feelings of guilt…?

If so, perhaps you and I can allow these feelings to motivate us to give to DCM. Even if you can’t afford to bring a food offering on Sunday for the DCM Foodbank, you can volunteer to be a Collector for the next Foodbank collection at the Chaffers New World supermarket.

One quick point: such real and effective responses, but we mustn’t forget the importance of relationships. Jesus’ teaching does not abstract problems to become about ‘social justice’ or ‘evangelism’, but highlights that our actions to help (or not to help) affect our Lord Jesus as our action affect the ‘least of these’. What matters is how we treat real people around us.

Today is ‘Christ the King’ Sunday. Thankfulness refreshes our reservoir as we live out the image of God in us, and recognise Christ as King in our lives.

This King turns expectations upside down in our world. Divine power is juxtaposed with weakness and vulnerability.

Our King, God’s own Son, suffered and died on the cross; the sinless one became sin – for us.

All our convenient categories that keep us at a distance from one another are subverted: weak/powerful, stranger/friend, good/bad.

What matters is how we treat others. And, if we are honest with each other, we will find ourselves sometimes treating others well, and sometimes ignoring people’s needs.

Jesus is NOT offering us certainty here – he isn’t intending to. He wants us to be attentive, faithful and diligent, in recognising His presence in those around us.

Let me Let me conclude by sharing an extract from a poem by Bruce Prewer, called ‘YOU CALL ME KING?’ (2004)

When I was hungry you gave me food;
when thirsty, you gave me drink;
when I was a stranger you gave me a home,
when I was naked, you clothed me,
when I was ill, you came to my help,
when in prison, you visited me.

‘King’ is your word, not mine.

When I come in glory
my sheep will all know me;
branded with my own love
which sets the captive free.

‘King’ is your word, not mine.

If you must give me a title,
before you find some rest,
let ‘king’ describe your servant
and that will serve you best.