Betty Owens Geary, lifelong Methodist, veteran of countless church meetings, married to Bob Geary
Matthew 25:34-46 (The Message)

34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

44 “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’

45 “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

46 “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”

Reflection:

I was about nine when I first talked Mama into letting me bake the cookies she’d volunteered to bring to a church function. I loved to bake even then, and I was so excited to bake for my church! I was proud and happy to bring the cookies I had baked and to share them with my church family. There was real joy in doing my part for my church.

I learned from the best when it comes to serving. My parents were great examples. So were the friends in their Sunday School class. They all served not just in the church but in the community as well.  We went along whenever we could, to deliver Christmas baskets to families in need, to help at the Thrift Shop, to paint the Girl Scout building. 

In Matthew 25, Jesus invites his followers to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Imagine being invited to a party, but all you got to do was sit on the sidelines watching everybody else have fun?  That’s what the goats have done: watched the sheep enjoy the Kingdom. What are the sheep doing?  Loving their neighbors.  How do we show love? By serving others—feeding, clothing, welcoming, visiting. The “sheep” reap the rewards of the Kingdom not because they followed the commandment to love their neighbors; they accepted the invitation and participated fully in the celebration, not just watched from the sidelines. 

And it’s not just their neighbors they are serving; it’s Christ Himself.  We show our love for God by loving our neighbors, and we show our love for our neighbors by serving them.

Wanting to serve is the most natural thing in the world. What’s the first thing we do when a friend or neighbor is in need—sick, injured, in the hospital, bereaved? We serve them. We bring food, offer rides, help with chores, sit with them. What’s the first thing we do in response to a disaster—a hurricane or flood, an earthquake, a refugee crisis? We find out how we can serve, by donating money, clothes, diapers, furniture, whatever the situation requires.  Sometimes the response is so great that not everyone who wants to can serve right away. Remember after 9/11? So many people showed up to donate blood that the donor centers couldn’t handle them all.  We all wanted to help.

There is joy in serving because serving is love in action. Jesus says to the sheep, “Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom.” I think what’s coming to us is already here—the opportunity to show our love for Christ and for our neighbors by serving them.

Prayer:

Gracious God, thank you for inviting me to the great celebration that is your Kingdom. May I always be ready to accept the invitation, to love you and my neighbors by serving. Help me remember the joy that comes from serving. Amen.