The Big Sort
(From the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31-46)
Near the end of Jesus' life, he and his friends knew that they would soon be parted from one another. They knew that he would be in heaven and they would be on earth.
"Will we ever see you again, Jesus?" his friends wanted to know.
"Yes," he told them. "I will come back in great glory, and I will bring angels with me. When that happens, God's kingdom will be on earth as it is in heaven."
"That sounds so wonderful," his friends said.
"It will be wonderful," Jesus said, "but it will also be a time for The Big Sort."
"What do you mean, Jesus?" they asked.
"People from many, many places will want to be part of God's Kingdom. They will come to me. I will separate them into two groups, like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. I will say, 'Those of you who gave me food when I was hungry and drink when I was thirsty – come into God's Kingdom. And those of you who welcomed me and gave me clothes when I was naked – come into God's Kingdom. And those of you who took care of me when I was sick and visited me in prison – come into God's Kingdom.'"
Jesus' disciples were confused. "We've been with you for a long time now," they told him. "When did people do those things for you?"
Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, when they gave food to anyone who was hungry, or drink to anyone who was thirsty, or made any stranger feel welcome, or clothed anyone who was naked, or took care of anyone who was sick, or visited any prisoner – if they did it for any of those who are part of God's family, they did it to me."
Questions to think and pray about:
What do you think it will be like when Jesus comes back to earth?
How will you know when that happens?
When have you offered food and drink to someone?
How have you made someone feel welcome?
When have you given clothing to someone who needed it?
How have you taken care of someone who was sick?
Have you ever visited someone who felt all alone with no good options?
How did it feel to do these things?