Christ the King (A)
‘As the shepherd separates sheep from goats’
Whenever I hear those words of Jesus describing our future experience of God’s judgement I am reminded of a simple scene I witnessed during my first visit to the Holy Land in the company of my mother and father in 1979.
Our little group of pilgrims were all gathered on the side of a hill near Jerusalem when we saw, across the valley, a shepherd walking steadily along followed by his flock – which was a mixture of sheep and goats.
We were curious to know how, when the time came, he would separate them one from another and direct them to their own place.
In fact, it proved to be very simple.
The shepherd simply turned around and looked at the approaching animals - and as they each came near to him they took a turn – the sheep to his right, the goats to his left. The shepherd didn’t need to direct them in any way, with word or further action. Each animal knew where he or she belonged – and they went there.
It was as if they had done this many times before and needed no further guidance. Probably that was indeed the case with the sheep and the goats - they had become accustomed to this movement. It had become habitual.
What we were watching was the outcome of many previous occasions when they had gone one way or the other.
Perhaps this scene can give us an insight into the prospect that awaits us when, at the hour of our death, we will come into the unclouded presence of our God.
By then we too will have a pretty good idea of where we belong.
There is no doubt that we have many occasions in the course of our life in which can choose to go the way of love, or of selfishness; of grace or of sin; of obedience to the will of God, or in rebellion against it.
We have many occasions in which we are free to follow the prompting of our conscience, or to resist its inner voice.
Many times in the course of our days we will have experienced in some measure the joy and peace that arises within us when we live as God meant us to, in works of generosity and courage, in mutual service.
Conversely we will have known something too of the hardening of heart, the inner emptiness, the personal isolation that is the consequence of a self-seeking which has little regard for the wellbeing of others.
Theologians have described Hell as alienation, as self-willed aloneness. It is, they say, the very opposite of the experience of community, of openness to others, of the intimate family love that is Heaven.
Hell would never be a surprise, catching a happy person unawares.
Rather it would be the full-flowering of a life of arrogant self-sufficiency in which there has been no regard for God or concern for fellow creatures.
Likewise, to enter heaven will seem in a way 'familiar' - like coming home.
Whether we become fully and eternally the kind of person we were born to be, that God wants us to be, does not depend upon our good fortune in this life, or even upon our abilities.
It depends upon our choices.
It is surely true that God does not want or will anyone to end up in Hell.
But the gift of personal inner freedom that we enjoy means that we can go in that direction if we wish.
Surely, as long as – somehow - we have a little love in our life…
…as long as somehow we have retained some kind of link with family or with community…
…as long as somehow we have cared for others besides ourselves as the Gospel story entreats us today…
then we will have some hope of eventually being 'at home' with God and 'at ease' in the company of the faithful followers of Jesus.
But if we allow ourselves to drift into the current of individualism and self-interest – so much a characteristic of these present times – then not only do we put limits on our present happiness but we put our long-term welfare at risk. We will be carried inexorably into unhappiness.
As the wise man said:
Be careful of your thoughts for they give rise to your words.
Be careful of your words for they will find expression in your actions.
Be careful of your actions for they become your habits.
Be careful of your habits they define your character.
Be careful of your character, it will be your destiny.