Day 28—Saturday, March 21

Matthew 25:31-36

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the 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 people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,  and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

Am I a sheep or a goat? What have I done in this life to determine what I am? Or, looking at the broader picture, are we sheep or goats? What have we done in this life to determine what we are when the Son of Man comes in His Glory?

I want to be considered a sheep, as the sheep are cared for by the Shepard. The shepherd watches over, protects, and sees that the sheep have all they need. If others are to be considered sheep, we will have cared for others during this earthly life. We feed and quench the thirsty, clothe the naked and welcome strangers.

Where do I see this happening today that gives rise to the thought we may be considered sheep? Well, I see it in the efforts of many who take on the mission of helping those who are less fortunate than they are—making life just a bit more tolerable with affordable food and housing, medical care, caring for this earth, and advocating for justice for all.

Humans have a basic desire to care for and be cared for, which is why this passage should resonate with us. When caring for others in many different ways, we can emulate the “Good Shepard” and then in other moments become the sheep that are cared for. Becoming, or being considered, a sheep can be a daunting thought, because isn’t a sheep a dumb animal that wanders off at times and needs protection from predators? Aren’t we humans subject to wandering off on tangents and silly whims, and don’t we need and seek protection? Basic protections that we often take for granted include food, housing, education, jobs, and the ability to feel comfortable with each other.

Our society today functions with many shortcomings that are contrary to the sense of a peaceful existence where the care, guidance, and protection of the shepherd are priorities. Social Justice includes enough to eat, adequate, affordable housing, jobs that pay a living wage, and tolerance for cultures and religious practices that are not our own. It is on us to promote care and justice for one another during this lifetime so we can one day be judged as sheep and placed on the right side of the “Good Shepard.”

So, I will end this reflection with this thought: If judged today, what would I, we, and today’s society be judged as?

Dear Lord, let us spend our time on this earth emulating the Good Shepherd, following the examples he has given us, even though it can be hard because we are not the “sheep” of his pasture. Let us do what is needed to be judged worthy of the title. Amen     

-Carole R. Banks