Christ the King Sunday Sermon

November 22, 2020
Christ the King Sunday
 
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 95:1-7a
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-46

Please pray with me,
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen. 

I’d like to share a few stories…and I would like you to let me know if you see Jesus in these stories, okay…and all of these are true.

First story – A friend of mine has been diagnosed with cancer.  In the midst of her journey and treatment, she has continued as teacher, mom of two, wife, and awesome friend.  For those of you diagnosed with cancer and other life changing diagnosis, life around you continues in the midst of your own health journey.  This past week was a tough week for her.  At the beginning of the week she heard the town leaf collectors, so she rushed out to rake as much as she could…she barely made dent in her yard and was exhausted when the truck passed and she learned that this was the early drive by.  Nevertheless, she was done. 
The next day her yard was filled with over 20 people, masked for her safety and theirs, to tackle the family’s yard. 

This week was also her birthday, and her wish was to raise $200 for American Cancer Society.  The day after her birthday friends and family had donated over $3000 in honor of my friend. 
Did you catch Jesus in those stories? 
In the friends armed with masks and rakes? 
In the generosity of friends and family? 
In the groups seeing a need meeting it? 

Yup.  Jesus was there.  In the young and the old.  In the active and the generous. 
Jesus was there responding to an individual and family that was in need of help. 
Jesus was that family in need. 

Story number two: 
My father, great guy that Klaus, attended Muhlenberg College and following graduation headed to the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia to become an ordained minister in the Lutheran church.  He served his first call in the Bronx and shortly after he stepped down from the roster of ministers.  It was a heartbreaking moment for my grandmother, but even as he stepped away from leading in the church, the church still impacted his life.  We went to church as a family all through my childhood, if friends slept over on a Saturday night, they knew church was part of the plan on Sunday morning.  It was a part of our family life.  Since then…my father drifted away from the church, although he’ll attend when he and my mom are visiting in Robesonia. 

He now meets regularly (at least pre-COVID) with a local atheist group.  It’s funny, because the way he describes himself is as a Lutheran atheist…the only way he can describe his disconnect from the church is through the churchy language he grew up with.  A while back, my father was sharing one of the activities that his group does…once a month (again, before COVID).  This group would prepare and provide a meal for a group of homeless women.  And the location of this meal?  Yup…the local church’s social hall. 

So, there is a group of women being fed, in a church, by a group of atheists. 

Do you see Jesus there? 
In the church that opens its doors for this ministry? 
In the actions of a group of atheists?
In the women receiving the gift of a meal and company once a month? 

Jesus is everywhere in that story…at least he is for me. 

Was it easier for you to see Jesus at work in the story of my friend? 
Not even knowing the beliefs of those who showed up to help and serve? 

Was it harder to see Jesus in the second story when I told you my dad was an atheist? 

And does it even matter? 
No seriously, does it even matter? 
 
When we see the love of God shared in service and care for our neighbors…
When we see actions taken to feed those who are hungry…to (safely) visit those who are imprisoned…to give water to those who thirst…to clothe those who are naked, to heal and work for the health of those who are sick…
Does it matter who is reaching out in those actions? 

I don’t think it does. 

In our gospel reading today, we hear about the sheep and goats. 
While they are separated after doing or not doing certain things…they aren’t even aware of how they were active in God’s kingdom and how they were inactive. 
The sheep didn’t recognize when they had cared for the King in their midst. 
The goats didn’t recognize when they had not cared for the King in their midst. 

It seems that both of these groups had just been living their lives. 
Some with care for others and some neglecting care for others. 

As we talked about this passage in our weekly clergy Bible study on Wednesday, we felt that on any given day, any one of us could fall into the category of sheep or goat.  It’s like we say in the confession….we ask for forgiveness for the things we have done and the things we’ve left undone.  The sins of commission…the ones we know we committed and the sins of omission, the ones we don’t realize that we’ve done and ways that neglect or ignorance have kept us from loving and serving our neighbors. 

We could sing about how we just wanna be a sheep – you’re welcome for getting that one stuck in your head…sing it all you want on the way home 😉…but if that’s our song?  Our everyday actions – words AND deeds should reflect that, right? 

Now this is where it gets tricky…because the truth is – we don’t need to do anything to earn God’s love and grace and forgiveness.  Those are all free gifts from a God who loves us unconditionally. 

So do we need to do what the sheep do? 
Not to earn God’s love we don’t. 

But to live in the kingdom here and now…and to bring the presence of Christ into a broken and hurting world?  You bet we do! 

We have an amazing opportunity to take action today and, in the weeks to come, that will help care for our neighbors in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. 

The simple act of wearing a mask shows everyone around you that their wellbeing, safety and health is important to you.    

When you wear your mask around the community you show your love for friend and stranger and the care you have for both of them. 
When we give space between ourselves now like physical space…and not gathering with friends or family for Thanksgiving (even though it’s stinkin’ hard).  We do it so that when this season of pandemic passes that we will all be here to hug and high five one another in celebration. 

Seeing Christ in our midst is sometimes hard…I could give you a list of people that cause me to really struggle and squint even…to see the image of God in their faces…but that’s exactly where Jesus shows up…in the places least likely. 

So you need to know, that even as a pastor, this is a good but challenging gospel lesson. 
And some days, your pastor will be the best sheep in the flock. 
And other days, your pastor will be a goat.  (And not the greatest of all time.)

But, BUT, because we live in this community – together – we will continue to love and care for one another…and we will help one another live out the call to love and serve our neighbors as best as we can. 

And as we do, they (our neighbors, friends, family and even enemies) will know we are Christians…by our love. 
By our love of God and love of neighbor. 
By our love of this world and care for creation.
By our love for the health and wellness of this nation and the hope for its future. 
By our love. 
Period.

And now may the peace, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and let all God’s people say, amen.