The message of the cartoon was powerful. The most noxious lifestyle of all is when compassionate words come from a care-less heart. Snoopy would no doubt prefer a blanket over a greeting. A compassionate heart is a reflection of the heart of God.

One of the most striking pictures of a compassionate heart I have ever seen is the heart of a little girl I met at a local Special Olympics event. She was sitting in a wheel chair watching a boy’s sprint. She had multiple physical handicaps as well as Down’s Syndrome. As the race progressed, there was one young lad struggling at the end of the pack. He continued losing ground, but nevertheless reached the finish line and was smiling even though he came in last. I noticed the girl in the wheel chair with tears coming down her cheeks. Her mother asked, "What’s wrong honey?" Her answer struck deep within my soul. "That little boy can’t run very good."

***

In the epistle reading for today, the apostle speaks about the work of God’s Spirit in our lives. One of the main functions of the Holy Spirit is to shape the character of Jesus Christ within our lives. That does not mean that we will become "cookie cutter" Christians where we all look, think, talk and act alike. When the character of Christ is shaped within us, we journey into God’s unique design for our individual lives.

Any parent with more than one child can tell you what an amazing variety of children can come from the same gene pool! No matter how similar they might be, our children are absolutely, wonderfully – and sometimes aggravatingly – unique! And so it is with God’s children.

There are, however, some identifying marks of authentic Christian people. Right near the top of the list of those characteristics is compassion. Compassion lies at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The lesson from Matthew today tells just how central the quality of compassion is in the eyes of Christ.

***

A brief aside about the way this lesson from Matthew is arranged in the Christian year can help us understand the passage. This is the last Sunday of what is called "The Year of Matthew" for those who use the lectionary readings. Next Sunday, which is the first Sunday of Advent, begins a new year and will take us through the Gospel of Mark.

If we were completing Matthew’s gospel in a chronological sense, we should be concluding with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Yet, here we are reading about events that took place in the days before Jesus was crucified. It is clear that the readings are not arranged in a chronological way or we would just now be coming to Easter – the real conclusion of the story in a linear sense.

The passage today does point to the theological or spiritual conclusion of the Gospel – the Good News. It begins with the words, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory…" This is the "When all is said and done," part of the story. It is the moral conclusion to the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus is talking here about the great consummation of God’s purpose for our lives. This is a vision of what it finally means to be accountable to God for the gift of life.

And the heart of this accountability is that we have had the heart of God – a heart of compassion.

***

The Gospel lesson is a kind of a spiritual-moral symphony in three movements we might call, "God’s Great Conclusion." [1] The Great Gathering, [2] The Great Test and [3] The Great Separation.

[1] The Great Gathering

Remarkable words. "All the nations will be gathered before him…" Throughout the New Testament there is the affirmation that every soul will acknowledge the Lordship of Christ. In Philippians it is, "Every knee shall bow…and every tongue confess… that Jesus Christ is Lord."

This great gathering has a purpose. "He will separate people one from another…" If you did not know the story, there would be a tremendous sense of anticipation – perhaps even trepidation. "Did I make it? Am I one of the people of God?" Whatever the expectation is and no matter what questions the multitudes might have – there is now a surprising turn of events. This great gathering now turns into the Great Test.

[2] The Great Test

Now the king puts before the multitudes a scenario which is utterly surprising. The great test is whether people responded to the needs of the king when he was in distress. He says to them:

I was hungry!
I was thirsty!
I was a stranger!
I was naked!
I was sick!
I was in prison!

The people are thunderstruck! "When did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison?

The answer should call every single one of our spirits to attention! It is what brings about the Great Separation.

[3] The Great Separation.

There is something incredibly important about the way this symphony turns out. The relationship the multitudes have with the king is not dependent on fate or on the arbitrary whims of the king – it is dependent upon the decisions and actions of the people themselves. From the beginning of scripture to the end, God never over rules the personal, choice making ability of human beings.

The Great Separation that comes is whether the people responded to the needs of the king and the answer to the question all of them had, "When did we see you hungry…?"

The answer is as natural as life itself and yet is utterly surprising to the gathered multitudes. "Whenever you saw the distress of any of God’s children and responded, you responded to me! Whenever you saw the distress of any of God’s children and ignored it, you ignored me!"

Then there is a great separation.

Jesus makes two statements that compel reflection. "Come!" And, "Depart from me!" Can you fathom the incredibly great consequence of these words? There is a terminal jolt here.

Throughout the gospels, Jesus invites people to follow him. "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden.." is one of the most familiar statements in the New Testament.

Now the time for invitation is over. Now the time for accountability has arrived. When I reflect on the words spoken to those who never developed that heart of compassion, I feel a bit of trembling in my soul. "Depart from me!"

***

Of all the characteristics the followers of Jesus Christ are enjoined to develop, a heart of compassion is place at the top of the list. It is significant that this quality is the one which concludes the year of Matthew. It concludes the history-long search of God for all those children who have been wandering and lost.

Christ has no way to reach out to the lost and hurting – the hungry, thirsty, naked or sick without his people. Because we are the Body of Christ, we are called to be for others what Jesus Christ would be if he were here in the flesh. And above all things, if he were here in the flesh, his life would still be directed by a heart of compassion. The heart of God.

Do you hear the voice of God speaking to you today?

Connections in the Texts

"Let’s make one thing clear," our readings are saying. It is the most ancient confession of all. "Jesus Christ is Lord." God reigns over all!" There is a sermon in bringing together all of the lectionary texts – something along the line of, "When All is Said and Done!" Several central points of faith are made in these passages which address the conclusion of all things.

* There is an accounting to come and God is absolute Judge of all things

* To be a part of the Household of God is to share in the Heart of God.

(That is the caring, outreaching heart of God becomes our heart. One of the primary functions of the Holy Spirit is to shape the character of Jesus Christ in the people of God)

* One of the foundation characteristics of God is a passion for the well being of the people of God. If you count the "I wills" in Ezekiel you will find the agenda for a witnessing community.

* There is special warning for those who are charged with the responsibility to care for the sheep.

* The church as the Body of Christ is to contain all the "fullness" of Christ.

The Psalm for today is a celebration of the central points of the texts and a wonderful conclusion to the year of Matthew. Once celebrated on this last Sunday of the church year – the Reign of Christ prepares us to take the journey once again.

Matthew

The final reading from Matthew’s gospel in the lectionary cycle is fitting. It is not the conclusion of the Gospel in the chronological, linear sense. The logical conclusion to Matthew is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The text does, however, address the final outcome of all things. The Son of Man will come "in his glory." God will reign and the kingdom will come.

Positioned on this last Sunday before Advent begins, the text speaks to that which is most on the heart of God. It calls to mind Jesus’ beginning sermon in Luke 4 when he quotes Isaiah 61:1-2. "The spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach good news to the poor…" (vv.18-19) As we enter the season of preparation for celebration of the incarnation, our hearts are turned to the reason the incarnation takes place.

The issue of the great judgment suggests another theme for a message – perhaps, "Irreconcilable Differences". There is a difference between sheep and goats – those who cared for the sick, the naked, the stranger and the captive are those who are "of the kingdom." Notice the "blessed" did not wear their righteousness on their sleeve. They as well as the "goats" were not aware of their reaching out to "the King." "When did we see you…? Great question. The "Irreconcilable Differences" are between those who see with the eyes and care with the heart of God and those who see through their own self-centered vision.

So is this "works righteousness?" Those who do good are saved and those who do not do good are lost? Verse 34 suggests not. The "blessed" are blessed by "My Father." This is still all of God – and yet there is responsibility for reaching out. The plan of God does not abrogate the responsibility of humankind. Neither does the responsible working of persons supplant the grace of God.

This familiar passage could be overwhelming – there is such surprise on the part of those who finally inherit the darkness. The passage calls each one of us to self examination. "Nominal" Christianity is no Christianity at all. A name recorded on a church membership list is not the same thing as a name recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. A fitting supplementary text for this reading would be James 1:22, "be doers of the word and not hearers only…"

Ezekiel

This passage is filled with the heart of God and the passion of God to find all those who are lost. It points to the ministry of Christ in a striking way. Ezekiel’s extensive discussion of the shepherd’s of Israel and THE Shepherd of God are foundation blocks in the working out of the Gospel. Jesus’ words about coming "to seek and save that which was lost" – about "the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep" and "My sheep hear my voice – point to these words from Ezekiel 34.

Two statements drive the fervor of this passage:

"I myself will search for my sheep…"

"I the Lord have spoken."

How can you help your people get hold of this? I recall a time when I was about 10 years old and my father asked me to do something for him. I do not even recall what it was he wanted. I do recall – very clearly – how the episode transpired. I did not want to do what he wanted and must have hesitated and groaned about it. His response sticks to this day. "Fine!" He said firmly, "I’ll do it myself!" He got up to do the errand or task and I jumped up as though struck by lightning and ran to do my father’s bidding. I don’t think I ever hesitated again.

Now – how will it be for us when God has to say, "Fine! I’ll do it myself!"

Ponder this. Some form of the words, "I will" are used twenty one times in this passage. The concepts form a virtual agenda for the church.

Ephesians

Paul’s prayer is that we who are the Body of Christ might know the incredible treasure we have as God’s people. In fact, it takes the intervening work of God’s Spirit to help us come to know what it is we have in our relationship with Christ.

In Christ we have: Hope, spiritual riches as God’s people, and inner power – the same power that brought about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This hope, treasure and power are all rooted in the fact that Jesus Christ Is Lord of all and the ultimate reign of God over all things is certain.

A Call To Worship  (Based on Psalm 95)

Leader:   We have come together to sing to the Lord.
People:  Let us joyfuly sing to the God of our salvation.
Leader:   The Lord is great and greatly to be praised.
People:  The splendor of all creation is from the hand of God.
Leader:   O come let us worship the Lord.
People:  Let us bow down together in the presence of God.
Leader: For we are the people of God!
People: Let us hear the voice of the Lord today! Amen.

[Or better -- read the Psalm of the day responsively.]

A Prayer of Dedication