In the Meantime

34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'

(Matthew 25:34-36)

Our gospel lesson this week is the final parable or story that Jesus told to explain to the disciples how to live while awaiting the coming of God’s reign, often called the kingdom of heaven. Here, Jesus contrasted those who were following Jesus’ example of loving their neighbor with those who did not - neither group realizing the eternal consequences of their heart shaping choices. It’s not merely that those who would find themselves condemned did not check off a to-do list of activities that God expected them to complete, but that their refusal to share what was never theirs to keep amounted to an unfaithful use of God's resources. And this continuous, repeated, neglect of God’s love so distorted the image of God in them that these internal choices would shape their eternal destiny.

It has been said that life is lived in the dash - the little symbol between a date of birth and the date of death. The meantime is that dash. Because of the generosity of God’s grace and mercy we have opportunities to both witness and be co-creators, with God, of moments of kingdom breakthrough even in the meantime. Salvation and reconciliation are God’s desire and plan, judgment happens when we allow our hearts and minds to be shaped by selfishness and greed - when we allow fear and a scarcity mentality to overcome the truth of God’s generosity. Whenever life feels uncertain, we have a tendency to see the world as a pie, where everyone’s grabbing to get some before it’s gone. But the love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, power, and presence of God are among the limitless gifts God gives us freely. May we live openhanded in the meantime.

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:20-23)