In his book titled “Man’s Search For Meaning” Viktor Frankl gives the reader a first person look at surviving the Nazi Concentration Camps.  He writes at length about the first few days when he and 1500 others were herded into a crowded train car and being forced to stand for days or lie on top of their luggage until they arrived at the camp. Once there, they were huddled into a shed, all 1500 of them that was built to accommodate 200.    One five-ounce piece of bread was all they had to eat in four days. Having been told to leave their luggage on the train (they would never see it again) eventually they were ordered to fall into two lines – women on one side and men on the other. Then they were filed past a senior SS officer. This officer would indiscriminately raise his right hand, and with the forefinger of that hand he pointed either to the right or to the left. This division of the people, as he would come to learn later was very specific, and ominous.  If you were directed to the right, you went to a work camp. If you were directed to the left, you were sent to a special camp. The sick and those incapable of doing work were sent to the left. This finger game was the first selection, the first verdict made on their existence or non-existence. Those who were pointed to the left were marched from the station to the crematorium – a building that had the word “bath” written over the doors. His description of this division of the people was horrifying because of the cold and indiscriminate selection for who was to live and who was to die. If you were elderly or infirmed or too young to work, you were sent to your immediate death. The others were sent to be worked to death, or at least near death.

We all have been part of a division of some kind – whether it was picking kickball teams in elementary school or picking partners in high school lab class. In our Gospel lesson, Jesus also directs people into two lines, but his determination has nothing to do with how they look or how they appear to him. Two lines are formed, and the people are looking at one another trying to determine what is going on. We are told that the people are separated like a shepherd separates the goats from the sheep, but there is no reasoning to why one is put into a particular group. Jesus our King has come, is sitting on his throne, and now no one knows what is coming next, and no one knows why Jesus has separated the people into two groups.

No one likes being in the dark — not knowing what comes next, do we?   We like to know because we like to be in charge – to have some sense that we are in control. So, those in Group 1 are staring at those in Group 2 – and they are doing the stare down – what is going to happen? Finally Jesus speaks:  “Come, you in Group 1, for you have inherited (not earned) the Kingdom prepared for you.”  They all look at each other – “What could he mean?”  Jesus continues, “Well you have inherited the kingdom because You fed me, and You gave me a drink, and You clothed me, welcomed me, cared for me, and You visited me.”  And they all look at each other with the same question on their minds: “When?”  “When did we do that?” 

And that is the point. They have no idea that when they were helping someone in need, visiting, caring, feeding, clothing, etc. – when they did that for people in need, they were doing it TO Christ. They have no idea because they don’t do it for show – they don’t do it for merit – they just do it.  Just Do It – that’s a good slogan – Just Do It (I don’t think Nike will mind if I steal their slogan).  If you have ever been poor, sick, hungry, marginalized, or in some other way you consider yourself an outcast or in need, you already know what it is like to feel as if you have been separated from the herd.  You don’t need someone to tell you that you are OUT, you already feel as if life has told you that you are not in – that you are a goat, not a sheep – a sinner, not a saint.  It is because there are so many people who feel left out that we have so many opportunities to let people know that they are loved, that God loves them, and the church loves them, and we welcome them here.  There should be no thought to it – Just Do It.   If we are looking for a personal mission statement, there it is. If you are wondering if you should get more involved with the church – Just Do It.  Do not wait to be asked.  Do not wait until you think someone will see you so they can thank you – just do it.  Just let the Holy Spirit guide you and move you and let the eyes of your heart be enlightened to make random and indiscriminate decisions to love others – and serve others. 

We like to think that we are always sheep, but often we are goats.  We are simultaneously both – sheep and goat – saint and sinner – guilty and redeemed. But Jesus Christ and the cross destroys the goat in all of us – and not only destroys the goat but changes us – transforms us. Today salvation has come to us through the cross and faith in Jesus our King.  We can’t live indiscriminately ignoring that reality or those around us in need.  We should not live our lives offering thanks to Jesus our King by doing NOTHING.  My friends, do not wait to give thanks, and to love others – just do it.

Pasto Dave