Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

 

 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.  And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:  for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'  Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." 

 

- Matthew 25:31-46 

 

In our recent readings, Jesus has been teaching the disciples about end times.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus gave the parable of the Talents:  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.  And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.  Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.  So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servants; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.  Enter into the joy of your lord.'  Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  And I was afraid, and went and his your talent in the ground.  Look, there you have what is yours.'  But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.  For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.  There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

 

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats."  My study Bible comments on today's reading, describing it as the majestic climax of His discourse on the end times.  This is not simply a parable only (of the sheep and goats images in the verses that follow), but also a prophecy of the universal judgment which will indeed come.  Since the Cross is now near to Him, my my study Bible says, Jesus raises the hearer to the sight of the glory of the Son of Man on His judgment seat, and the whole world (all the nations) before Him.  

"And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on His right hand, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: . . ."   My study Bible explains that Christ uses sheep to illustrate the righteous, because sheep follow the Shepherd's voice, and they are gentle and productive.  Goats are used to indicate the unrighteous, because they don't follow a shepherd and they walk along cliffs, which represent sin.  (We should keep in mind that these are symbols used because of particular traits, not an indictment of animals in nature!)  Inherit is a term used with sons and daughters rather than strangers or servants, because the righteous become children of God by adoption (Galatians 4:4-7).  

". . . for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'  Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?  Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'  And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"  My study Bible comments on this passage that to see Christ in everyone is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).   It notes also that the standard of judgment is uncalculated mercy toward others.  The works which are produced by faith are emphasized here, for, it says, saving faith always produces righteous works.  What we do reflects our true inner state.  The least refers to all the poor and needy.  My study Bible notes also that the needs described in this parable include both physical and spiritual needs.  Therefore, the hungry or thirsty are not those who need food and drink alone, but also those who hunger and thirst for the hope of the gospel, and the infinite expressions possible through that gospel and our understanding of faith.

 

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:  for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'  Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'  Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."  My study Bible points out that Jesus says the fire was prepared for the devil; it explains that this shows that God did not create hell for human beings.  Rather, people choose this torment through their coldness of heart.

In yesterday's reading and commentary, we noted that the parable of the Talents (see above) indicated an emphasis on positive action by Christ.  That is, it did not stress the negative ("do not") but rather positive action by his servants in the use of the talents given by the master, in order to produce profit for the estate while he was away.  Each servant was rewarded accordingly upon the master's return.  In today's parable, Jesus takes this positive action one step further, by describing activities that are positive uses of the "talents" we're given by God, a heart capable of expressing compassion or "love in action" in any number of ways, and far more than we're given in the sample Jesus names here.  These are all actions which in some way are expressions that become fruit of the Spirit; because, if we listen to the Spirit with which we're blessed, this great grace we're given, our hearts are capable of such expression.   We are capable of loving others as we love ourselves.  That is, with the help of God, we become capable of the discernment to find such expression, even if it comes through an encouraging word or a prayer, even when no one else knows.  I am constantly surprised by the subtle action of prayer, and the response of people to prayer even when I haven't told them I pray for them.  This connection through spiritual life is genuine; the Kingdom among us one that forms relationship and relatedness, a community that is unseen and yet known and understood, perceived with faith.  It is this network of relationships, this communion, about which Christ always speaks, and which is effectively shown to render the power of judgment itself.  For it is how we participate in such a network, how we act to pursue such a community -- to add and contribute to it, to support and nurture it -- is how we participate and become the sheep He asks us to be.  Let us consider the very personal nature of the actions that Jesus names.  They are direct responses to need, to treating another as we would desire to be treated.  These acts of compassion are person-to-person; they are not detached theories of regulation or rules of morality.  They are rather acts of the heart that come from within, from the place where the Kingdom dwells within us and lives among us. 

 

 

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

Panagia Grigoroussa ("The Quick"), modern icon, Greece

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

- Matthew 24:45-51

 In our recent readings, Jesus has been speaking to the disciples about the end times, which incorporates a prophecy about the destruction to come to the temple and to Jerusalem within a generation (beginning with Saturday's reading).   "Now learn this parable from the fig tree:  When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.  So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -- at the doors!  Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.  But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field:  one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill:  one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."   If we take a close look at this parable, we see that it is directed toward the disciples, and specifically the apostles and their successors who will be leaders in the Church.  That is, to those whom the master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season.  In this time of prophesy of end times, in which Christ leaves His flock in the care of those who are meant to be faithful and wise servants, note that Jesus makes the analogy of feeding to pastoral care.   Once more, as He has already done several times, His warnings are against abuses in the Church, exploitation of the little ones, the less powerful, and excesses of power; self-indulgence rather than service.  He has just finished His address to the Pharisees and scribes, an eight-fold prophesy of woe and condemnation of their hypocrisy.  Here, He indicates that those who are meant to serve Him and fail to care faithfully for His household will be appointed his portion with the hypocrites. 

 Throughout the Gospel, we have read Jesus giving "exhortations to principles of virtue and warnings against corruption," as my study bible characterizes this final parable.  This is primarily directed toward the disciples, the ones who will be placed in positions of power in the Church.  But really, if we look carefully at all that He has said before regarding the prophecy of end times and the destruction of the temple, we should understand it as applying to all of the faithful.  At some level, each of us is appointed a servant, each of us awaits the Master's return, as we follow His prophecy and promise regarding His second coming.  Note that we all may give them food in due season.  That is, we might cultivate our own stores of virtue to share with others, following the directions and guidance of the Master even in His absence.  Jesus says that the evil servant in the parable says in his heart,  "My master is delaying his coming."   This easily applies to those of us who await His return these millennia later.  St. Peter addresses this problem in his Second Epistle, when he writes, "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, 'Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.' "  St. Peter then reminds us of the psalm, when he continues, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:3-8).  According to St. Peter, the purpose of lag or delay in fulfilling this promise of His return is for repentance; it is patience and time before the day of Judgment.  We in this world have things to learn, time to change our minds or repent.  We have experience of life so that we might reflect and come to terms with the teachings we're given.  In this sense, the delay is from the love of Christ, just as a good parent gives his or her children time to mature and to grow.  So, in this time of awaiting the Master's return, what do we do to feed and care for one another?  Clearly Jesus indicates that it is necessary that we refrain from "beating our fellow servants," not practicing violence, aggression, manipulation, not "pushing people around," so to speak.  Neither are we to "eat and drink with the drunkards," indulging ourselves in every self-centered impulse, forgetting who we are to be and the things to which Christ calls us as His servants, remembering His commands.  Certainly we are to remember Him, to be aware, and not to lose ourselves in the distractions of the day and the time.  As we await His return, we remember who we are and what we are to be about, we watch faithfully, caring for His household, maintaining our own good order for the sake of all the others as well.  In yesterday's reading, the icon type was one which depicted Mary, the Mother of God, as the One who is "Quick to Hear" our prayers (Panagia Gorgoepikoos).  Today, the icon above is similar, in that its title is Panagia Grigoroussa, the One who is Quick (to help us).  Panagia means All-Holy, and is a title for Mary; Grigoroussa is from the Greek word for "quick" or "swift."  She (as Christ's parable reminds us we are all to be as good servants) is the one who comes swiftly to help us, to respond to our requests for aid.  Her name Grigoroussa is also translated as "vigilant," meaning the one who is alert or awake to respond quickly to requests.   Let us remember that all of us are to be profitable servants, awake and alert to the tasks at hand, to the care and feeding of our fellow servants, to hear prayers and to pray with others as intercessors for one another.  This is how we await His return, and also how we await at this time the celebration of His birth into the world.

Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd

 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

- Mark 6:30-46

Yesterday we read that the apostles, sent out on their first missionary journey (see Tuesday's reading), cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.  Now King Herod heard of Jesus, for His name had become well known.  And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."  Others said, "It is Elijah."  And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets."  But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"  For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.  Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."  Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him.  And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.  Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.  And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you."  He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."  So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"  And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"  Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."  And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.  Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought.  And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.  And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while."  For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.  So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.  The apostles have just returned from their first missionary journey, having been sent out by Christ.  My study bible notes that Christ gives rest to His disciples to show those who are engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not continuously labor, but also must take rest.  It reminds us once again that Jesus has taught, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and came together to Him.  And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.  So He began to teach them many things.  Jesus' first impulse is always about healing by giving what is necessary.  Jesus is moved with compassion because they are like sheep not having a shepherd.  He gives them what a good shepherd gives, true leadership and direction:  teaching them many things.  Jesus is frequently referred to as being moved with compassion (1:41, Matthew 14:14, 20:34; Luke 7:13).  My study bible says this shows that His power and authority are extended to those who suffer.  

When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.  Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."  But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."  And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"  But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have?  Go and see."  And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."  Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.  And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.  So they all ate and were filled.  And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.   This miracle is reported by all four evangelists.  Jesus feeds a great multitude of His people as He (as Lord) fed the Israelites in the desert (see Exodus 16).   Church Fathers have seen in this feeding an image of the Eucharist, an idea my study bible says is made clear in John 6.   One patristic interpretation emphasizes a spiritual perspective:  the five loaves indicate the give books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ and thus feed the universe.  The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen.  That the twelve baskets of fragments are taken up by the apostles shows that nothing is lost.  As my study bible puts it, the teachings that the faithful are unable to grasp are nevertheless held in the consciousness of the Church.

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.  Once again we observe the practices of Jesus.  Everything He does is punctuated by periods of prayer.

Although it is Luke who is generally understood to give us a picture of Jesus as Physician (and Luke was a physician himself), Mark's Gospel clearly gives us a picture of Jesus as healer.  As noted above, Mark's is the Gospel that gives us Jesus teaching, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."  In today's reading, we are invited to consider the fullness of our needs in the ways that Christ addresses those in His care, and in the way He lives as well.   We may more appropriately consider healing in Jesus' practice to consist of feeding or nurturing the whole of a person, and teaching us to honor all that we are.  His first act in today's reading is to tell the apostles to come aside by themselves, to someplace far away from the cities and towns where He is by now always pursued, so that they can rest.  As Healer, He teaches us to fulfill our true needs.  While they have returned from a first mission, it is time for them to rest.  But the people follow, and Jesus is moved with compassion.   Here, the observation is that they are like sheep not having a shepherd, so He gives these people what they need.  He teaches them many things.  It is a way of feeding and nurturing the soul.  Jesus addresses every aspect of what it means to be a person, a human being.  When it becomes late, and this multitude of people (five thousand men, but also more women and children) needs something to eat, the disciples suggest to send them away to buy bread, but Jesus insists that they can feed the people.  This miracle of feeding doesn't only recollect the miracle of feeding the Israelites manna in the wilderness.   Nor does it only teach us our dependency upon God -- although, of course, both of these elements are present.  But Jesus' feeding and nurturing goes much, much further.  This is the preview of the Eucharist, a bread that is more than bread.  It is a "supersubstantial bread" (if we look at the literal meaning in the Greek of "daily bread" in the Lord's Prayer).   This is a bread that also feeds soul and spirit.  It does not merely feed for a short time, but for an uncalculated time and regardless of which state of life we may be in.   According to the rites of the Orthodox liturgy, the Eucharist is "the lamb of God," "broken and distributed"; "broken, but not divided; ever eaten, yet never consumed; sanctifying all who partake thereof."  It contains elements beyond our present understanding.  Finally, in today's reading, Jesus goes to the mountain alone to pray.  This is a type of nurturing we all need, but how often do we give it to ourselves?  Do we punctuate our day with it, and frame it around times we need to make choices and decisions?   While there are endless articles and advice in every forum to teach us about diet and what it can do for us, Jesus gives us food for nurturing every element of life.  He sets the example of what it truly means to be whole and healed, to live a healthy life:  He nurtures every part of who we are.   In the Eucharist, He Himself becomes our food.  We recall that the summation of the apostolic mission to the world will be to follow the command, "Feed My sheep."   He teaches His disciples to live their lives with His discipline, to do as He does.  It is the whole point of discipleship.   Let us consider during this Lent how we may also go and do likewise!  We must care for ourselves if we are to care for others; the two go hand in hand.  What wise and good practices will nurture all of you?