“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.  And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”  What is the basis for this separation?  Have we cared for those in need?  Have we entered into the work of rescuing the weak, the weary or the wounded?  Have we shown concern…love…to those that we encounter on our path as we walk through life?
 
Today’s Gospel is one of the most enlightening parables Jesus ever spoke.  His words are crystal clear…God will judge each of us according to how we reach out to respond to the needs of others.  There are certain things which this parable teaches us about the help which we must give.  It must be help in simple things.  The things that Jesus talks about; like giving food to the hungry or a thirsty person a drink…welcoming a stranger…cheer to the sick…visiting a prisoner…are things which anyone can do.
 
It is not a question of giving away huge amounts of money or writing our names in the annals of history.  It is a case of giving simple help to the people we meet every day.  It must be help which is uncalculating.  It is interesting that, when the verdict is handed down, both groups ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison?”  Neither group knew that when they cared for one of the least…they cared for Jesus.
 
All anyone saw was a person in need…hungry, thirsty, alone, alienated, sick, and imprisoned…maybe holding a hand out…maybe too beaten down even for that.  It wasn’t the case of the deserving poor…the falsely accused…or the morally acceptable.  It was simply a matter of a person in need…without resources…a case of responding to what is right there before one’s eyes, ears and nose.  Nobody saw Christ in the hungry or naked.  No special mystical vision.  It comes as a surprise to all concerned.
 
The basis for judgment is how we respond to what is in front of our faces…in all of its unglamorous…smelly…little-to-be-gained from…without even any gratitude reality.  The help which wins the approval of God is that which is given for nothing but the sake of helping.  Jesus confronts us all with the wonderful truth that all such help is also given to him…in contrast, all such help withheld is likewise withheld from Jesus.  How can that be?
 
Imagine this scenario.  If we really want to bring delight to those who are parents…if we really want to move them to gratitude…the best way to do it is to help their children.  God is the great Father and the way to delight the heart of God is to help his children; our fellow men and women.
 
The vision of judgment that Jesus describes can project a forbidding image evoking fear, guilt and even hopelessness, especially when each of us considers all the missed opportunities we have had and have let slip-by.
 
There is a story associated with St. Martin of Tours.  He was a Roman soldier and a Christian.  One cold winter day, as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked him for alms.  Martin had no money but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold.  So Martin gave what he had.  He took off his soldier’s cloak, worn and frayed as it was, and he cut it in two and gave half of it to the beggar. 
 
That night Martin had a dream.  In his dream he saw the heavenly places and all the angels…and Jesus among them.  And Jesus was wearing half a Roman soldier’s cloak.  One of the angels said to him, “Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak?  Who gave it to you?”  And Jesus answered softly…’My servant Martin gave it to me.’
 
As we conclude Thanksgiving week…a holiday that calls us to give thanks for all we have received…and as we prepare to enter into the season of Advent that proclaims the return of the One who was born and died for our salvation…may we wholeheartedly give ourselves to the work that Christ has called us to do.  When we learn the generosity which without calculation helps others in the simplest things…we too will know the joy of helping Jesus Christ himself.
 
Ora et Labora  (Prayer and Work),
 
 
Deacon Bob