“And the King will… say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you [loved] one of the least of these, My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

            What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ, brethren? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ? By what mark, what mannerism, will the world know that we are disciples of Jesus?

“When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.  Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, “Where I am going you cannot [yet] come.” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’” (John 13:31-35).

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Brethren, authentic love is the hallmark of the Christian life. A life steeped in wisdom and knowledge is good, but a life without love is a sub-standard life, a less-than-Christian life. A life steeped in courage, and ambition, and success, and talents, and accolades is not wrong, but a life without love—true love—is a sub-standard life, a less-than-Christian life.

“Then the King will say to those [sheep] on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matt 25:34-40).

The world does not know how to distinguish a sheep from a goat. The world is easy to fool. To speak “Christian-ese,” to play the part, to look the part, to give the tithe, to serve on the council, to sing in the choir: all goats can give, and serve, and sing. But only a sheep can love.

Brethren, today we hear the parable of the sheep and the goats—a parable of the dread and terrible Last Judgment of our Lord. The moral of the parable flies in the face of the most sophisticated Christian atonement theories. It is so simple in its presentation, and yet so offensive. Seemingly: we will be judged by how we’ve behaved, by how we’ve treated others. But, we object, there is “none righteous, no, not one; all have turned aside, together they have become worthless. No one does good, not even one” (Rom 3:10-12). Isn’t that what the Apostle says, quoting the Psalmist? Brethren, today’s Gospel parable does not contradict the Apostle. Rather, it highlights the fact that despite God’s abundant grace in the universal resurrection of the dead—for indeed, there was none righteous, none but Christ, who died and resurrected in the flesh for the salvation of mankind—there is yet a judgment on the basis of works. Our salvation, brethren, goes beyond our bodily resurrection. Our salvation is for the healing of soul and body and with it, the renewing of our minds (cf. Rom 12:2). “Be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). It is not enough for God that he should resurrect us from the dead, but he desires

“… a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9).

God does not want just any nation, any hodgepodge flock of “fuzzy, domesticated ruminants.” He desires a spotless and perfect flock, a distinct flock, with wool white as snow; obedient, attentive, responsive to the Master’s call.

            Do you know how easy it is to be a sheep, brethren? Sheep are simple animals. Sheep are silly animals; silly in their simplicity. Sheep eat, sheep drink, sheep sleep, sheep go “Baa!” Sheep come when the shepherd calls. We could do a great disservice to the work of God in redeeming his people by taking the analogy too far—God does not want simple, imbecilic Christians—but there is a degree of truth in the simplicity of our call as followers of Jesus Christ. Goats, unlike sheep, are more adventurous, more dexterous, more wise. Goats are more interesting animals. They have a wider palette. They can climb and jump. They’re playful. “Sheep eat. Sheep go ‘Baa!’”

            I said earlier: “a life steeped in courage, and ambition, and success, and talents, and accolades, is not wrong, but a life without love is a sub-standard life, a less-than-Christian life.” The Christian who defines his Christianity by way of “spiritual metrics” (how often do I fast? how much do I give? how much do I serve? are people noticing my service?), this Christian is the goat of the spiritual flock; certainly not boring, certainly more spiritually agile and dexterous and interesting than his sheepish brother, but: altogether missing “the forest for the trees.” We can pursue theological learning, acknowledgment from our Christian peers, a veneer of piety, and we miss our brother in need of a friend, we miss our sister who has been going through a hard time financially; we miss an elderly person who could use a dinnertime visitor, or a shut-in who has had a very lonely week.

            Brethren! It is so easy to be a sheep! It is so easy to love! Why must we complicate our salvation with ritualistic piety? Why must we tempt the Master, our Chief Shepherd, to glance at us and to say, “You look like a sheep, … but you are not a sheep.” Brethren, during this season of Great and Holy Lent, a time saturated in fasting and prayer—every opportunity for spiritual growth, and every opportunity for spiritual pride—let us keep in mind the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats; and let us keep in mind the Last Judgment. God is not impressed by the depth of our asceticism. And he is not offended by its lack. But what he cannot stand is a haughty and uncompassionate heart. Remember, it was a Pharisee and a Levite who kept the law perfectly, and who passed the injured man by, but it was the Samaritan who showed him love (cf. Lk 10:25-37): two goats, one sheep. Remember, brethren, it was the crowd of self-righteous Pharisees who said, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But it was Zacchaeus the Publican who said, “Now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (cf. Lk 19:1-10). Innumerable goats, and one ruddy sheep. Remember, brethren, it was Judas Iscariot who said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold…? It was worth a year’s wages” (Jn 12:5) But it was Mary of Bethany who “took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his [them] with her hair” (Jn 12:3). A goat of the most intimate flock of Christ—a goat in sheep’s clothing—and a pure lamb who has “done a beautiful thing” for her Master and Shepherd (Mk 14:6).

Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!