Matthew 25 Sheep and Goats. What if?

[Jguerra]

The goats on the left are astonished to find they did not clothe the naked, feed the hungry, slake the thirsty, visit the ill and imprisoned and in so doing they neglected Jesus.

I’m thinking of the Christian soul, who, for whatever reason cannot participate in some good works–the squeamish who fears hospitals and prisons. The ones who don’t have anything to spare in their pantries or closets. At the very best, they can contribute some small monetary donation to a worthy cause, even if it’s the equivalent of the widow’s two cents into the poor box.

I am trusting that the Lord’s mercy is sufficient to supply for such a soul’s meager efforts at charity.

Does this passage from the Gospel call us to action however small?

Put it another way: if I do help out at a soup kitchen, help lay in the plumbing for a water supply, contribute to a clothing drive, accompany the deacon when he brings Holy Communion to the hospitalized on Sundays but fail to visit the county jail, does that make me a goat?

 

[puzzleannie]

I’m thinking of the Christian soul, who, for whatever reason cannot participate in some good works–the squeamish who fears hospitals and prisons. The ones who don’t have anything to spare in their pantries or closets. At the very best, ?

Our Lord did not specify what form this help should take. There are literally hundreds of ways to carry out spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Visiting the sick and imprisoned does not mean you have to hang out at the hospital or jail. Can you run errands for someone who is homebound, or help a senior with medicare forms, or send used religious magazines and books to the local prison. Organize your child’s class to make seasonal cards and little favors for those in your parish who do make such visits to take with them for the patients. Is there a new mom or someone who is recently home from the hospital who would welcome a home cooked meal, having the walk shoveled or grass cut, dog walked?

Be creative and try not to be so quick to compartmentalize these good works into narrow routes. Neither did our Lord say we have to do all these things all the time, to the exclusion of the necessary work demande by our vocation in life. Recall that the needy we encounter most often are in our own families or workplaces.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

You can always pray for them.

 

[NotWorthy]

Ask yourself, “What can I do”? Then do it!

If you look at this parable and the one right before it in Matthew’s Gospel (the Parable of the Talents), you’ll find that sometimes our sins of omission receive a harsher judgment than our sins of commission (sinful things that we do).

 

[NotWorthy]

You can always pray for them.

Just be mindful of what James says of this.

If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

 

[Christy_Beth]

If you don’t have a coat to give, you don’t have a coat to give. Nobody saying otherwise makes a difference. “Gee, why didn’t you give a coat during the coat drive?” Well, gee, could it be I’m lucky to have a coat of my own to wear? Sometimes pray is all we have to give.

Also, our acts of kindness aren’t always so obvious. What about a kind word to someone who has been having a really rotten day? Isn’t that like a sip of water to a thirsty soul?

 

[Orogeny]

Also, our acts of kindness aren’t always so obvious. What about a kind word to someone who has been having a really rotten day? Isn’t that like a sip of water to a thirsty soul?

Actually, I think this is one of the most overlooked forms of service to others. I spoke about this to my confirmation class this week. They are required to perform a certain number of hours of service prior to being confirmed. After asking them what kinds of service they were doing (and they were doing some great service), I asked how often they took time to talk to the kid at school who is an outcast. The one who has to eat lunch by themselves because no one dares to be seen talking with them. The one who everyone laughs at because they don’t wear the right clothes or have a physical impediment or don’t hang out with the in crowd.

We don’t have to give food or clothing or shelter or drink (although those are all great things to do). Sometimes, the best thing we can give is a word of encouragement to a fellow child of God.

Peace

Tim

 

[puzzleannie]

good advice to recall that the parable of the talents comes just before this selection. don’t worry about giving the gifts you don’t have. cultivate a habit of thankfulness for the gifts you have been given, and that will prepare you to identify those gifts and realize how to use them for service to the Church and God’s poor. do not limit your thinking to material gifts.

 

[Jguerra]

Thanks to all who replied. I had an idea more or less what the answers were going to be. I needed to hear from you.
Joe

 

[Xenos8]

I believe that judgment is when Jesus comes back and judges the people that are on the earth at that time. Possibly only the Gentiles. The sheep are believers and the goats are not. We’re saved by grace through faith, not works of any kind.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Does Jesus add anything to believing in Him? NO. Does Rome?

1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.51 “Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature52 by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.
-Yes, Rome does.

 

[Christy_Beth]

I’ve always thought that the final judgement also included those who didn’t consider themselves christian. That the judgement was for all people. But I could be wrong on that. Growing up protestant gave me some weird beliefs.

 

[NotWorthy]

I believe that judgment is when Jesus comes back and judges the people that are on the earth at that time. Possibly only the Gentiles. The sheep are believers and the goats are not. We’re saved by grace through faith, not works of any kind.

That’s interesting, Xenos. You seem to interpret the Bible a little differently than what Jesus says. When He explains why He is sending the sheep to heaven, does He say, “For you believed in me?” ** No**. He says, “*** for *I was hungry and you gave me food…”
**Hmmmm, it sounds like the way we react to our faith has something to do with how we are separated. We must have faith, mind you, but faith entails obedience to Christ’s commands, and one of those commands is to love our neighbor.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Does Jesus add anything to believing in Him? NO. Does Rome?

1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.51 “Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature52 by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.
-Yes, Rome does.

Look at the Goats and what they say, “**44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry…”

**It seems like the goats had Faith, but it didn’t save them? Why not, Xenos?

 

[NotWorthy]

I’ve always thought that the final judgement also included those who didn’t consider themselves christian. That the judgement was for all people. But I could be wrong on that. Growing up protestant gave me some weird beliefs.

Yes, Christy Beth, you are right. Don’t let a little Dispensationalism confuse you, for they are the ones confused.

Notice that Jesus begins the parable with: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations,…
This includes Israel, and all non-Christians.

 

[NotWorthy]

OK, the more I thought of this, the more I wonder if we’re reading the same Bible, my friend.

I believe that judgment is when Jesus comes back and judges the people that are on the earth at that time. Possibly only the Gentiles. The sheep are believers and the goats are not. We’re saved by grace through faith, not works of any kind.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Does Jesus add anything to believing in Him? NO.

Oh really?!?
Matthew 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

What do the Apostles say?

1 John 2:3-4 clearly express John’s opinion:The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his command ments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live (just) as he lived.

St. Paul is just as adamant, as he told the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 5:10:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

And finally, John speaks of the vision he saw in Revelation 20:12: I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls.

Does Rome?

1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.51 “Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature52 by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.
-Yes, Rome does.

Yes, the Catechism explains it rather well, I must say. Wonderful Book!!! Wonderful Teaching!!!

But is this particular teaching on Sacramental Grace accurate?

Let’s see…

How about Baptism?
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. John 3:5 - Yep, when we are Baptized, we receive this Grace of the Holy Spirit.

How about Confirmation?
Well, in Acts 8:14-17, we read about that. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the holy Spirit. Yep, in Confirmation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit!!! Sacramental Graces? I think so!

How about the Eucharist?
John 6: 53-54 makes this very, very clear! Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. That’s about as Sacramentally Graced that you can get!!!

How about Confession?
Jesus gives the Apostles the Authority to forgive sins in His Name and He will forgive those same sins. “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” That’s an incredible responsibility! Just think, if you forgive someone’s sins, Christ will forgive them as well!!! Awesome!!! So, one must know the sins of another in order to forgive or not forgive. That would mean the Apostles either needed ESP or they needed to be told the sins. Hmmmmmm… that smells like confession to me!

So, I think its evident that the Church’s teachings on Sacramental Graces are Spot On!!!

I could go on, my friend, and cover marriage, the Annointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders, but I think we should agree (or disagree) on this in order to continue.

 

[jcrichton]

I believe that judgment is when Jesus comes back and judges the people that are on the earth at that time. Possibly only the Gentiles. The sheep are believers and the goats are not. We’re saved by grace through faith, not works of any kind.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Does Jesus add anything to believing in Him? NO. Does Rome?

1129 The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.51 “Sacramental grace” is the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by Christ and proper to each sacrament. The Spirit heals and transforms those who receive him by conforming them to the Son of God. The fruit of the sacramental life is that the Spirit of adoption makes the faithful partakers in the divine nature52 by uniting them in a living union with the only Son, the Savior.
-Yes, Rome does.

I don’t get you… do you mean to say Jesus was wrong?

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[NotWorthy]

I don’t get you… do you mean to say Jesus was wrong?

Maran atha!

Angel

I think our good friend Xenos is a dispensationalist. It I’m correct, he might think that St. Paul’s teachings may over-ride Jesus’ teachings when there’s a conflict - since Jesus taught the Jews and Paul taught the Gentiles. Of course, that means he has to ignore St. Paul’s teachings on good works, as well.

But hey, I could be wrong about Xenos.

 

[jcrichton]

I’ve always thought that the final judgement also included those who didn’t consider themselves christian. That the judgement was for all people. But I could be wrong on that. Growing up protestant gave me some weird beliefs.

Jesus seems to be under the impression that some will pretend to be His disciples and will indeed perform signs that would resemble adherence to Christ… “…not all who call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven…”

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

I think our good friend Xenos is a dispensationalist. It I’m correct, he might think that St. Paul’s teachings may over-ride Jesus’ teachings when there’s a conflict - since Jesus taught the Jews and Paul taught the Gentiles. Of course, that means he has to ignore St. Paul’s teachings on good works, as well.

But hey, I could be wrong about Xenos.

I’ve noticed that many times the grievance is with the Authority of the Church but some go to such extremes that they reject/ignore Christ’s own Word in an effort to put the Church in her place!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[redeemedbyJesus]

There are so many ways you can help others that don’t cost money… tell them about Jesus and the way of salvation for one (there is nothing more important than that and it doesn’t cost money), grab a tin and go door to door collecting money to donate (check with the charity before you do this), visit someone in your church who may not get many visitors, pray and study the bible and share it with others.

All these things cost nothing but your time and effort.

 

[Ruthie]

Good point, Redeemed. Sounds like you agree with us Catholics that “faith without works is dead.”

Us “prayer warriors” still have to be careful that we aren’t being selfish, though, and remember what St. James said:

If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food,and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? (James 2:15-16 RSV)

I think that ties right in with Mt 25:44-46. “Then they also will answer, Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'Then he will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.'And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

As guilty as anyone,

Ruthie