HTLC Sermon Notes: 06.14.26 3rd Sunday after Pentecost

Last weekend was the yearly Synod Assembly. Although I couldn’t attend in person, I watched every moment on YouTube. I miss interacting with my friends and colleagues, but I think I get as much out of it as if I had attended in person.

Saturday morning was the big worship service with Holy Communion. Imagine 250 people in the conference room, and all the pastors processing in robes and stoles. It was quite the sight.

It was a great service: wonderful music and of course, the Eucharist: but my favorite part by far was a story I heard during the sermon.

In fact, I’ve changed our gospel for today because I felt the message and the story were so important. Then I had to do my due diligence and study the passage so I could develop my own message.

Today’s passage from Matthew is a parable about the final judgement. First, a promise that Jesus will return someday and at that point he will separate the sheep from the goats.

In today’s language sheep are those followers who know Jesus, love him, and do their best to follow his teaching. Goats are folks (in ancient days…the Pharisees) who said they were following the commands of God but were so hung up on the proper order, the religious hierarchy, and the many laws of their religion that they failed to be understanding and compassionate to the people who really needed them.

In today’s world we still have sheep and goats, don’t we?

There are people who quietly do the next right thing, who care for others, who show mercy to the least of these. We may not even always know all that these sheep do!

And there are also people who are so hung up on doing things in the correct order, or making sure everyone knows their good deeds, or worrying about having bodies in the pews, or who are loving and generous but only to certain groups of folks that they forget about true ministry.

Let me say this … in my opinion I think we all have tendencies to be both sheep or goats -- probably in the same day!

But despite the challenges this gospel presents, there’s a lot of good news in today’s gospel about the final judgement.

I was thrilled that this tied in so well with last week’s sermon about Jesus calling a tax collector, and then his day being interrupted by Pharisees, a temple official, and a sick woman. Jesus’ day was interrupted by true ministry.

Today we are told that followers of Jesus serve the underserved. That we are to care for others without worrying about what’s in it for us!

So, I want you to reflect for a moment about the least of these. Who are the least of these to you?

Perhaps it is someone whose skin is a different color. Maybe it’s a person of a different faith. Maybe it’s someone in a different political party…or someone in prison…or a neighbor with whom you disagree.

The fact is we probably all have different people that we feel are the least of these. And yet, we are called in this gospel to see the face of Jesus in them - to treat them like we would treat Jesus — yes, it’s a hard ask — nearly impossible.

But here’s the good news: We don’t have to do it alone. God’s Holy Spirit is with us to help us, to guide to direct us, to give us strength and courage. Those are all things that we need when we are the followers of Jesus.

And more good news — this parable, this gospel, is not about keeping score. It’s also not a reason for despair. Let’s face it…none of us could be perfect all the time. Of course, we’re going to have times when we judge others or don’t want to help somebody because we don’t like something about them.

That’s what Good Friday is all about. Jesus took care of our humanness by dying for us. We do not have to worry about the final judgement thanks to Jesus hanging on the cross.

I encourage you to think about serving the least of these and helping in a nonjudgmental, merciful way. Every time we can, we are helping God’s kingdom. Then…we just need to relax and know that this isn’t a test (the guy who helps the most people wins). No! Jesus took care of the times that we were not perfect.

And that brings me to the story that I heard during the synod worship service.

The Reverend Ann B Jolly, who is the Episcopal Bishop for the Ohio Diocese, delivered the sermon that day. She related a true-life experience that happened to her when she was working with people to help folks who had just gotten out of prison.

They were passing out clothing and toiletries and other necessities to these people. Everything was going along smoothly (in fact they had quite the assembly line) but one of the men, one from her congregation, sat down and talked to one of the ex-convicts. During their conversation, this parishioner reached over and put his hand on the other man’s hand -- a simple gesture of compassion. To everyone’s surprise, the gentleman who had been in prison burst into tears and explained that it had been years since anyone had touched him in love.

Pastor Jolly said that at that point she was weeping, her parishioner was weeping, everyone was weeping. Her parishioner had really seen the face of Jesus in that man and treated him accordingly.

Her parishioner told her the following Sunday that God had really broken his heart wide open and he would never be the same.

That’s what God wants from us, friends.

God wants us to see the face of Jesus in every single person with whom we come in contact. It doesn’t matter whether they are believers or not, what color their skin is, who they voted for, or how much education they have. Everyone (everyone) bears the face of Jesus. It’s our job (our calling) to remember that and to respond accordingly.

I want to share with you a blessing of sorts that I often use to end retreats. It’s wonderful to share with friends, but even more important to remember to share it when we meet with the least of these.

I see the face of Christ in you.

The love of God comes shining through.

And I am blessed to be with you, my holy friends.

Amen!