Sunday Readings Discussion - 11/20/05

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This weeks 1st reading, responsorial psalm, and Gospel look at Jesus as the shepherd and us as His sheep. Both in Ez 34:11-12 15-17 and Mt 25:31-46 we hear that there will be a separation of souls at the time of judgement. In Ez. we hear “As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats”. Jesus clarifies this for us when he says that those who will enter the kingdom of heaven will be those who practiced the spiritual works of mercy.

This is a case for works that we Catholics can present to our nonCatholic brothers and sisters. In the Gospel Jesus never said you who believed will enter but you who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned.
 
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Mt25)
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I have not ever entered Sunday Reading Discussion at CA Forums before but this particular one caught my eye. Maybe not many people today are altogether familiar with the nature of goats and sheep? Years ago I had the opportunity to raise both from birth.

Sheep are sweet, attentive creatures…They really do follow their shepherds (owners) voice and body…just like in the nursery rhyme many of you maybe familiar with…Mary had a Little Lamb. Sheep are really pliable in ways and are quite lovable. Sheep are soft and huggable.

Goats on the other hand are quite willful. There is not much pliable about goats…They are even more rigid to the touch than sheep. Goats are also quite crafty compared to sheep.

I hope this is helpful.
 
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contemplative:
Sheep are sweet, attentive creatures…They really do follow their shepherds (owners) voice and body…Sheep are really pliable in ways and are quite lovable. Sheep are soft and huggable.

Goats on the other hand are quite willful. There is not much pliable about goats…They are even more rigid to the touch than sheep. Goats are also quite crafty compared to sheep.
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Thanks for that.

As children we had lambs as pets and goats as well. You can’t turn your back on goats, that’s for sure.

The first reading reminds us that, as God is not a hired shepherd but the owner of the flock. He watches over us, tends to us and brings us back when we stray.

Christ is king over all and we’re all judged by God. He gives us so many chances to follow Him and do what is right that we will have no excuses that we didn’t know or couldn’t help ourselves.

That shepherd is like a parent always on our case.
 
Eileen T:
The first reading reminds us that, as God is not a hired shepherd but the owner of the flock. He watches over us, tends to us and brings us back when we stray.
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We are His only interest. This is breathtaking for me.
 
The Gospel reading connects well with Colossians 1:10. “to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
 
In verses 37-40, the righteous are portrayed as being rather surprised that Jesus would call them blessed and welcome them fully into the kingdom:
37
Then the righteous 16 will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
40
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
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They are surprised because everything they did for others was done out of love and without expectation of reward or gain. Elsewhere Jesus says:
(Luke 17:7-10)
7 “Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
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Any speculation on why the the one’s on his left were equally surprised?
 
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Fidelis:
Any speculation on why the the one’s on his left were equally surprised?
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Expectations once again wouldn’t you say Fidelis? Where as those who were acting out of love had no expectations those who were acting out of pure self regard did expect to be rewarded. It’s about heart – do we have a heart for Jesus and our neighbor?
 
My mother is one of those that perform many acts of charity because it comes natural to her. She is always surprised when someone finds out something she has done and praises her.

To her it is just doing something that she sees needs doing - no big deal. Sort of like Mother Teresa.
 
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contemplative:
Sheep are sweet, attentive creatures…They really do follow their shepherds (owners) voice and body…just like in the nursery rhyme many of you maybe familiar with…Mary had a Little Lamb. Sheep are really pliable in ways and are quite lovable. Sheep are soft and huggable.

Goats on the other hand are quite willful. There is not much pliable about goats…They are even more rigid to the touch than sheep. Goats are also quite crafty compared to sheep.

I hope this is helpful.
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This is most helpful contemplative. Here’s yet another perspective on sheep. I heard a man speak who decided to buy sheep so that he could better understand the Bible. He was a strong willed man prone to anger and little compassion or gentleness. The sheep hated him he said and the ram attacked him on a couple of occasions. They were fearful of him as he would yell & throw things. On the other hand, the sheep loved and followed his kind, gentle, compassionate daughter. It wasn’t until he went out to the barn on a cold wet night to help the ewe’s birth the lambs, that they began to trust and follow him. He had made a sacrifice for their good, and they recognized this.

Jesus is that loving gentle shepherd who we can trust completely. He suffered for us his lambs, and we love Him in return for His sacrifice.
 
Quaere Verum:
Jesus is that loving gentle shepherd who we can trust completely. He suffered for us his lambs, and we love Him in return for His sacrifice.
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This equation makes sense. I can see it. Thank you
He was a strong willed man prone to anger and little compassion or gentleness. The sheep hated him
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I never thought of how my sheep would be if I did not love them. This is something to think about.
 
Today’s Gospel is one of the best for picturing yourself within the scene and imagining if you were one of the participants. In our parish, over the altar, we have a huge (40 foot) icon of Christ the King seated on his throne with the Book of Life and it’s seven seals in his hand. It was easy for me as I listened to the reading to imagine myself on his right, and hearing those beautiful words. It was equally disconcerting to imagine being standing on the left, after hearing Jesus’ words to the righteous, then, as he turned his gaze towards we goats, frantically trying to make excuses as to why I shouldn’t be there, even though I know my own failings. The overall message I got was that I would not want to be one of the goats if I could help it (and I know, with God’s grace I can).
 
but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly (EZ 34)

This puzzles me too.

Explanations?
 
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MariaG:
but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly (EZ 34)

This puzzles me too.

Explanations?
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Read the entire chapter. In the larger context, through Ezekiel, God is speaking to the unfaithful shepherds of Israel (who are also God’s sheep) who have fattened themselves at the expense of the other sheep (see verses 2-3, 8, 10, 20-21). It is these “fat and sleek” that the Lord denounces and will destroy. Thus he will shepherd his entire flock “rightly,” or as the RSV-CE translates “I will feed them [all] in justice.”
 
It seems as if Jesus was referring to acts performed out of charity and not to specific acts? In other words, if we feed the hungry, give to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick, etc., but do not do it with love then of what use is the act? In this way the parable seems to tie in with 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

“… If I should speak with the tongues of men and angels, but do not have love, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, yet do not have love, I am nothing. And if I distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, yet do not have charity, it profits me nothing.”
 
Quaere Verum:
This weeks 1st reading, responsorial psalm, and Gospel look at Jesus as the shepherd and us as His sheep. Both in Ez 34:11-12 15-17 and Mt 25:31-46 we hear that there will be a separation of souls at the time of judgement. In Ez. we hear “As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats”. Jesus clarifies this for us when he says that those who will enter the kingdom of heaven will be those who practiced the spiritual works of mercy.

This is a case for works that we Catholics can present to our nonCatholic brothers and sisters. In the Gospel Jesus never said you who believed will enter but you who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned.
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The past three Sundays, when the Gospel was from Matthew 25, made me think the exact same thing that you wrote, that Matthew 25 is about works.
 
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Fidelis:
Read the entire chapter. In the larger context, through Ezekiel, God is speaking to the unfaithful shepherds of Israel (who are also God’s sheep) who have fattened themselves at the expense of the other sheep (see verses 2-3, 8, 10, 20-21). It is these “fat and sleek” that the Lord denounces and will destroy. Thus he will shepherd his entire flock “rightly,” or as the RSV-CE translates “I will feed them [all] in justice.”
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Okay, thanks. Another lesson on how important it is to not just take isolated Scipture to truly understand the meaning:D

God Bless,
Maria
 
This is just what I was looking for. In our Sunday Missal 1Cor 15:21 reads “For since death came through a human being, the resurection of the dead has also come through a human being” The RSVCE uses the word man. Is it not incorrect to say that Jesus is a human being?
st julie
 
Quaere Verum:
Jesus clarifies this for us when he says that those who will enter the kingdom of heaven will be those who practiced the spiritual works of mercy.

This is a case for works that we Catholics can present to our nonCatholic brothers and sisters. In the Gospel Jesus never said you who believed will enter but you who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned.
Click to expand...
these actions described by Jesus are commonly called the corporal works of mercy. The spiritual works of mercy are also prescribed elswhere by Jesus, but this reading deals specifically with meeting the material needs of the poor and helpless. It is very clear and unambiguous. As St. Augustine reminds us, when scripture speaks of the Lord commanding a good action, the prescription is to be taken in its literal sense.
 
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