Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me

 

 "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 to eternal life."

 

- Matthew 25:31-46 

 

In our present readings, Jesus has been giving His discourse on end times to the disciples.  He concludes with several parables illustrating the need to remain prepared for His return.  In yesterday's reading, He taught the parables 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 servant; 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 hid 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."  

 "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."  My study Bible calls the passage in today's reading the majestic climax of Christ's discourse on end times.  This is not simply a parable, it notes, but a prophesy of the universal judgment which will indeed come.  Now the Cross is near Christ, events are unfolding quickly, and He raises His hearers to the sight of the glory of the Son of Man on His judgment seat and the whole world before Him. Here He uses sheep to illustrate the righteous, my study Bible explains, for they follow His voice and are gentle and productive.  Goats symbolize the unrighteous, as they do not follow the shepherd and they walk along cliffs, which are symbolic of sin.

"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.'"  To inherit is a term which is used regarding sons and daughters, rather than strangers or servants; my study Bible comments that the righteous become children of God by adoption (Galatians 4:4-7).  The standard of judgment which Jesus expresses here is uncalculated mercy toward others.  The works which are produced by faith are emphasized.  My study Bible says that saving faith always produces righteous works, and what we do reflects our true inner state.  It notes that the least refers to the poor and needy.  The needs described here are both physical and spiritual; so, the hungry or thirsty are not only those who need physical sustenance of food or drink, but also who hunger and thirst for the hope of the gospel (see Matthew 5:6).  To see Christ in everyone, my study Bible comments, is the fulfillment of the great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).

 

"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 to eternal life."   My study Bible notes that this fire was prepared for the devil, showing that God did not create hell for human beings.  Rather, people choose this torment by their coldness of heart.  

Perhaps its important to first note that what we leave undone has consequences as well as what we have done.  This is what Christ's parable teaches to us, when He notes the incidents where people had the opportunity to show mercy or compassion, and did not.  It tells us that God seemingly presents opportunities in our lives for such works of faith, times when we may be so "moved with compassion," as we have seen Christ on various occasions, to offer something to others, a kindness, an extension of our faith, if you will.  This is what it is to be a "practicing Christian," someone who lives one's faith.  It may be a perspective others don't share, but it seems to be poignant that Jesus calls those who are the objects of compassion "the least of these my brethren."  It reminds us of the repeated warnings Jesus has given to the disciples regarding treatment of the "little ones" in His Church.  We might wonder what defines a person as "brethren" to Christ, but it does seem to suggest that Christ is not asking us to take in those whose aims are to do us harm or cause evil; we're asked to share love with the "least of these" -- to love neighbor as oneself.  If we visit the parable of the Good Samaritan, we find that to act as a neighbor is to be a neighbor, and this principle is upheld and defined further in today's parable of judgment.  Perhaps our greatest warning we should take from it is that it is not only our positive actions which have determined outcomes, but our negative actions as well.  Therefore, each moment is precious and defined in God's sight, all of it counts and none of it is lost or wasted.  Let us, then, be alert to opportunities; that is, to what God is presenting us with today. For every day counts, all things are before us each day.  We might seek to pray for the discernment to see, and to find God's way for us through it all.

Go and do likewise

 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  He said to him, "What is written in the law?  What is your reading of it?"  So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"  And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."  

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"  Then Jesus answered and said:  "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a certain priest came down that road.  And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.  And when he saw him, he had compassion.  So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'  So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among thieves?"  And he said, "He who showed mercy on him."  Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

- Luke 10:25-37

Yesterday, we read that the seventy apostles who had been sent out by Jesus returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."  In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.  Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will to reveal Him."  Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"  He said to him, "What is written in the law?  What is your reading of it?"  So he answered and said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"  And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live."     The two laws cited by the lawyer (an expert in the law) are from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. 

"But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"  Then Jesus answered and said:  "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead."   My study bible says, "Jerusalem is the place of peace, symbolic of communion with God.  Jericho, on the other hand, was renowned as a place of sin (see 19:1).  Falling among thieves speaks to the natural consequence of journeying away from God toward a life of sin (see John 10:10)."

"Now by chance a certain priest came down that road.  And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side."  My study bible tells us that titles and positions are meaningless in God's sight when good deeds do not accompany them.  Quoting Cyril of Alexandria:  "The dignity of the priesthood means nothing unless he also excels in deeds."  A note continues, "That the priest and the Levite did not help the man also indicates the failure of the Old Testament Law to heal the consequences of sin."

"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was.  And when he saw him, he had compassion."   My study bible suggests that the Samaritan, while a despised foreigner, is an image of Christ (see John 8:48).  Christ "came down from heaven" (Creed) to save even those in rebellion against Him."

"So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'  So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among thieves?"  And he said, "He who showed mercy on him."  Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."  A note says, "The bandages, oil, and wine are sacramental images for (1) the garment of baptism, which delivers us from the wounds of sin; (2) the oil of chrismation, which gives us new life in the Holy Spirit; and (3) the communion of the living Blood, which leads to eternal life.  His own animal indicates Christ bearing our sins in His own body, and the inn reveals the Church in which Christ's care is received.  He pays the price for that care (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23)."

Jesus' statement, "Go and do likewise," puts us in an entirely different place than the Law leaves us. The Law speaks about refraining from vengeance, and from holding a grudge.  These are important points that Jesus also makes in various Sermons, that I think we miss all too often.  (It also tends to refer to those who are of the same people; see again Deut. 6:51.)  "Love your enemies" is a direct appeal against vengeance.  But from there, in this story, our understanding of the concept of neighbor becomes entirely changed from a "do not" into a highly proactive behavior.  And in this "Go and do likewise" we find yet another mandate for gracious behavior.  That is, being like Christ, imitating the grace that is given to each of us through Him.  And in this behavior is a "neighbor" made.  It is entirely within keeping of the Gospel message, of being disciples, even being sent out into the world to represent this Kingdom into the world, that we are to be -- in some sense -- proactively gracious!  In that case, it is entirely up to others (would-be neighbors) whether or not they accept or reject our gracious (loving) behavior.  It is in the practice of kindness that we offer the Kingdom to others.  Refraining from the kind of vindictive behavior that a grudge would carry to someone else is another side of the same coin; what Jesus teaches isn't at all in contradiction to the Law.  Rather, as He says Himself, it is in fulfillment of it.  In a time when image becomes more and more powerful, given the omnipresence of social media of all kinds, we are -- somewhat surprisingly -- living in a world where it seems like graciousness is increasingly hard to find.  The ever-present and growing power of image becomes a weapon, for PR or perhaps for fighting or bullying.  The seeming anonymity or protection of a screen and distance seems to amplify hostility and rudeness, and it translates into our daily lives, where a kind of force of how you look to others, how impressive one is, how much power one has, becomes a leaven that is evermore bluntly pursued and winds up affecting daily commerce in many ways, especially among the young.  Image also serves hypocrisy, where what matters isn't your heart, but what impression other might have (that is, the right people).  This can translate into donations that have meaning for publicity's sake, but a lack of charity in personal behavior.  I have found a lack of graciousness in all settings, in Churches and among those who really should know better, who may occupy and seek positions of importance.  And, on the other hand, I regularly experience great graciousness from the powerless, and the less seemingly-important, including elders of another generation.  Graciousness, "good manners," is all about the kindness we offer to others.  There's a well-known saying that good manners or etiquette really translates into one thing:  making another person feel comfortable.  This the Samaritan quite literally does.  He treats the hurt man as if he were in his own home, and in effect makes a home for the man, providing for his care.  Thus the Samaritan makes a neighbor of the other.  We don't know whether or not the hurt man was grateful.  The story doesn't tell us that.  It doesn't tell us whether he went his way after healing feeling he had just "gotten something" out of someone else with an attitude of entitlement or superiority.  It doesn't tell us if he repaid the innkeeper for the cost of care provided by the Samaritan.  It just doesn't tell us any of those things.  But it does give us a recipe for ourselves, and for bearing a gracious kingdom into the world.  "He who showed mercy on him" is the one who was the true neighbor.   Let us endeavor to go and do likewise.  It is the way to be disciples and apostles, the very way to show that we are followers of Christ.

Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace

 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him.  And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue.  And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying.  But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment.  And immediately her flow of blood stopped.  And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?"  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me."  Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.  And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.  Go in peace."

While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead.  Do not trouble the Teacher."  But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well."  When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.  Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.  But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise."  Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately.  And He commanded that she be given something to eat.  And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.

- Luke 8:40-56

In yesterday's reading, we read that Jesus and the disciples sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.  (This comes just after they were on the stormy seas and the disciples felt they were perishing while Jesus slept.  See Wednesday's reading.)  And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.  When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg You, do not torment me!"  For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles, and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.  Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?"  And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered him.  And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.  Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain.  So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them.  And He permitted them.  Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.  When those who feed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.  Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.  And they were afraid.  They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed.  Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear.  And He got into the boat and returned.  Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him.  But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you."  And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him.  And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue.  And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying.  But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him.   We note the facts here:  it is the ruler of the synagogue who has called on Jesus, and we are back in Jewish territory, home ground for Jesus and His ministry.  The multitudes throng Him everywhere He goes.  Today's "double miracle" (as we shall read in subsequent verses) is reported in Matthew and Mark's Gospels as well.

 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment.   Let's examine the facts again, and contrast them to one another.  Jairus' daughter is twelve years old, and this woman has had a blood flow for twelve years.  This blood flow likely makes her ritually unclean, while the girl is the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue.  The young girl is the daughter in a prominent family, but this woman with the blood flow has not only despaired of hope for healing, she has become destitute spending money for physicians.  Jairus approaches Jesus for his daughter, falling at Jesus' feet to ask,  and they walk through the crowds, as all know what is happening and others will come from his house to give the news of the girl.  But this woman with the blood flow feels only the courage to approach Jesus from behind and touch the border of His garment.  Jairus' daughter is in the beginning of a promising life, just entering maturity -- while the woman is destitute and devoid of hope for means of support.

And immediately her flow of blood stopped.  And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?"  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me."  My study bible has an interesting note:  "Healing power comes from Christ.  That which Jesus touches or which touches Him, is sanctified. . . . Jesus taught that one thing sanctifies another:  'Fools and blind!  For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?' (Matt. 23:17).  Therefore, to trustingly touch the border of His garment was to touch Him.  Others may have touched Christ, but this woman's faith draws His power as well."

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me."  Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.  And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.  Go in peace."  Let us observe what it is that Jesus takes time for.  It is another one of His "family" -- as we recall that Jesus taught that those who hear the word of God and do it (again in Wednesday's reading) are also His mother and brothers.  In this case, this woman is "Daughter."  She is included in His family.  "Go in peace" is once again (as He said to another woman, in an earlier reading) the sign of reconciliation.

While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead.  Do not trouble the Teacher."  But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well."   A note here reads, "Jesus exhorts the parents, only believe.  We are to believe God, even when it appears there is no hope.  These parents do keep believing, and their daughter is made well."

When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.  Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.  But He put them all outside . .   Here is a kind of protection of faith.  Only His inner circle is invited in, and the father and mother of the girl.  This is in the face of those who "know" otherwise and ridicule, all of whom are put outside by Jesus.

. . . took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise."  Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately.  And He commanded that she be given something to eat.  And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.   My study bible says, "Christ's divinity works together with His humanity to accomplish His miracles.  Here, taking the child by the hand and calling her to arise is an action of His humanity.  Her being restored to life is an action of His divinity.  These two operations, however, are inseparable because He is One undivided Person.

To understand Christ is to take His actions and look at them in many different ways.  Often we are astounded or made to take note of His use of time, space, the realities of physics and the elements of the earth.  Here, through touch, power is transmitted via the border of His garment.  Through faith, a connection is made.  Jesus also knows time, knows what is happening at Jairus' house, knows that He can take His time for a "daughter" who is also a part of His family, the one who is destitute, an outcast, and "unclean" by the laws of ritual purity.  And yet, there is time.  There is time to walk, still, to Jairus' house.  There is time to put the mourners and the naysayers and ridiculers out of the room.  There is time to greet His daughter in the crowd before walking to Jairus' house.  He takes the young girl by the hand, and tells her simply to arise.  Jesus has time, and care, and solicitude.  He has time to express His love and care which are a part of the healing that He generates.  Let us remember that healing can take many forms, but faith and love can't be far apart.  We may not have the prescience and knowledge that Jesus has, and we may not be able to work miracles of healing, defying the elements of the world and the laws of physics.  But we can be like Him in taking our time for what is necessary, where love and care are necessary, where recognition is necessary, where a kind word is necessary.  Let us remember His time and how He uses it, and let us take our time for the things that really count:  a kind word, a loving gesture, and even the power of touch.