Sermons for the Month

Serving People In Need - Our Tasks As We Wait For Jesus
DATE: November 24th, 2002
SERVICE: Christ the King Sunday
TEXT: Matthew 25:31-46
“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
Let's begin today with a game of complete the sentence. Now remember, the clue to how to finish the phrase is in the beginning part of the sentence. I'll give you an example. "If a person is a vocal soloist, then he or she sings solos." So, it's your turn, "If a person is a soccer player, then he or she kicks a (soccer ball). If a person is a photographer, then he or she takes (photos). If a person is a novelist, then he or she writes (novels or books)."

Of course, the person who sings solos might also sing duets every now and then, and the soccer player might kick the grass as well as soccer balls, and the photographer may take something other than photos, like a video tape, and a novelist might write short stories as well as books. Still, in order to be called a soloist or a soccer player or a photographer or a novelist there are certain specific things that a person must do, right? You can't be called a soloist if you have never sung a solo.
Now, what's the end of this statement, "If a person is a Christian, then he or she (believes in Jesus Christ.") The specific answer is that he or she believes in Jesus Christ and in what the Bible teaches us about him. That's what entitles someone to be called a Christian. But, there are other characteristics of Christians; there are other things that Christians do that are integral to who they are. That's what today's Gospel lesson is about.
During the past three weeks we've been focusing on the fact that one day Jesus will return in glory, but in the meantime we must make the best possible use of this time of waiting. So, the question is, "What do we do while we wait?" The two answers that we've come up with so far are (1) to cultivate our relationship with God so that we might maintain the drive and the desire to be lights in the world's darkness and (2) to do what we must - even if it involves risk and change - to multiply the Gospel treasure that is ours'.
The third thing that we must do that is clearly stated in today's Gospel lesson is to help those in need. In this text Jesus gives us a clear answer to the questions, "Am I my brother's keeper? Am I my sister's keeper?" and the answer is a resounding "YES". That's the point being made here, but it is one we often miss because we get hung up on whether or not we will end up with the sheep or the goats when Jesus comes in glory and separates people one from another. So, let me address that concern.
The witness of scripture over and over again is that if we want to be prepared for the unexpected return of Jesus all that is required is that we have faith in him. If that's true, then we are among the sheep. What this text suggests is that the fact that we are a part of the flock will be obvious in the way we live. Only King Jesus will know who has faith and is a sheep that he shepherds. It's not up to us to size up people's lives and pick out who is who. The thing about this passage that we must focus on is the message that Christians will love and serve others without regard for whether or not those actions are "deserved". That's what Christians do, it is integral to who we are.
It's interesting to note that the serving acts that are being described are not that complicated. Anyone of us can help feed and clothe those in need, we can welcome strangers - which includes those who feel left out and alone. We can cheer the sick and, yes, even visit those who are in prison. Afterall, we're not being asked to end worldwide famine, or to solve the problems of homelessness, or to cure disease or to reform the legal system. Any step we can take in that direction is good. However, all to often our efforts are stopped even before we get started because the problems seem so overwhelming. All we are ask to do is care, to get beyond ourselves, to do something.
And, in case we need motivation, in the parable Jesus confronts us with the wonderful truth that all help given to others is given to him. And yet, did you notice, that those who were meeting needs did not even realize Jesus was the ultimate recipient of their kindness? Jesus says to them, "Come you who are blessed…for I was hungry and you fed me…." And what is their response? They are perplexed, so they say, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you?" The surprise answer is that Jesus had come to them before, in ways they did not recognize. And, the implication is that in their reaching out to meet needs they were not trying to pile up eternal merit; they were not attempting to earn God's favor. Instead, they responded because of their faith, and out of a loving heart. And, because of that, their reward was great.
And what about those who were punished? The message seems to be that their lack of faith was obvious in the way they lived their lives and resulted in painful consequences. Thankfully, as I said earlier, the business of judgment is God's business, not ours'.
Our business is to make good use of this time of waiting and to serve Jesus by serving others. I love what Mother Teresa wrote in her book, A Life For God. She said, "Listen to what Jesus says: 'I want you be my fire of love among the poor, the dying and the small….' Learn this expression by heart, and repeat it when you lack generosity. We risk rejecting Jesus every time we reject others."
We risk rejecting Jesus every time we reject others. Or, to look at it another way, we risk missing out on seeing him, touching him, being blessed by him through that person who is in need.
As I reflected on this text I could not help but remember my last ministry as a pastor in a large retirement community. You know, there were things that were challenging - at least to me - in that setting where there was abundant life, but also illness and disability and death. However, those painful realities were not the things that challenged me.
I was not disturbed, really, by the human fraility that surrounded me. In fact, that was the true blessing of the ministry because day in and day out I saw Jesus in the often dim eyes of the folks who lived there. There was no doubt that I was meeting needs, there was no doubt that Christ was present, and there was no doubt that I was touched and blessed by Him in the midst of challenge.
So, I would add to Mother Teresa's saying. We risk being blessed by Jesus every time we are a blessing to others. Why do I call being blessed a risk? Well, it is because the more we are blessed, the more we will give, and soon we may find ourselves risking all for the sake of Christ the King. What better way is there to occupy our time while we wait for his return?
We can easily complete the sentence, "If a person is a Christian, then he or she believes in Jesus Christ and risks self in order to serve Him while serving others. That's a risk worth taking.
AMEN