This week is both Christ the King Sunday and Thanksgiving Sunday. Listen to the scripture texts to see what connections we find with both of those foci.
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Ezekiel was a prophet of God who lived in a time a great international upheaval that eventually ended with Nebuchadnezzar, who was the leader of Babylon dominating the region for a long time until he is conquered by Cyrus the Persian. During this time Ezekiel is in exile in Babylon.
Ezekiel speaks out against the leaders of Israel. In the opening part of chapter 34, he uses the language of shepherds, which was common in that day, and accuses them of not being good shepherds because they are more concerned about themselves than the people or the sheep over which they are entrusted. In vss 11 and following he announces that God has told him that God is going to take over the leadership and care of Israel. God will restore them and bring them home and take care of them. God will take care of the lost, the injured and the weak, but he will destroy the sleek and strong (which seem to be the leaders who looked after themselves.) In vss. 20-21 God announces that he will judge the sheep.
Think about animal judging contests where the judge notes the strengths and the weaknesses of each animal, not to condemn, but to highlight each of those things.
Psalm 100
This traditional psalm of thanksgiving is often associated either with any moment of giving thanks and particularly as we worship around our national holiday of Thanksgiving Day. For the Hebrew people being able to acknowledge that we belong to God as sheep belong to a shepherd is a great affirmation. They affirm that God is good and his love endures forever.
Matthew 25:31-46
This is the third parable in Matthew 25 that teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven. In this parable we are asked to imagine when the Son of Man comes in his glory with the angels and sits on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him. (Remember the picture from Revelation 7 that we read for All Saints Day.) Jesus tells about the people being divided at sheep and goats were divided as they came in from pasture and placed in different folds. The sheep and goats eat different foods and their behaviors are different.
In the parable at the division the Son of Man invites the sheep or those on his right to come inherit the kingdom that was prepared from the foundation of the world because he says that he was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, needed clothes, sick and in prison that they responded to his needs. They are surprised and do not remember doing for him and says that if they did it for the least of his brothers of mine, they did it unto him. Then he tells those on the left, the goats, to depart for they are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. The reason is the opposite of the sheep. In all those circumstances they did not care for him. Likewise, they are surprised and asked when did they fail to care for him. His response is whenever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me.
Vs. 46 Then they will go away to eternal punishment and the righteous to eternal life.
What do we learn about the kingdom of heaven from this parable? Are there similarities or differences in the lessons of the three parables in Matthew 25: The Ten Bridesmaids, the Talents, the separation of the sheep and goats?
Ephesians 1:13-23
Ephesus was an important trading, port center in what is today Turkey. Paul writes to the Christians there to encourage them not to become content or complacent with merely becoming Christians. He encourages them in their Christian journey to grow in Christ.
Paul affirms that when they became Christians, God placed a seal upon their hearts by the Holy Spirit guaranteeing their salvation. He goes on to tell them about his prayers for them to grow in the Christian faith.
What in Paul’s list do you pray for other Christians? What would you like for others to pray for your Christian walk?
Prayer: Holy God, one of our greatest desires is to be found faithful whenever you look at our lives and welcome us into your kingdom. Keep us vigilant in our service and care of others that our witness may be faithful to your word. Amen.