Daily Readings - Sun Nov 26 2023
Ezekiel
11For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.12As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.15I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.16I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.17And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
1 Corinthians
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.28And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Matthew
31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God's profound care for His people and our responsibility to act with compassion. In Ezekiel, God is portrayed as a shepherd who seeks out His scattered flock, rescuing and caring for them, emphasizing His justice and mercy. This imagery underscores God's active role in restoring His people, especially during their exile, promising them hope and renewal.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul discusses the victory of Christ's resurrection, which conquers death and paves the way for believers' future resurrection. This passage reassures us of God's ultimate triumph, where Christ will reign until all things are subjected to Him, and death itself is defeated. This victory gives us hope and motivation to live in a way that honors God.
The Gospel from Matthew vividly describes the Last Judgment, where the Son of Man separates the sheep from the goats based on their treatment of the needy. This teaching highlights that serving the least among us is equivalent to serving Christ. It challenges us to recognize Christ in everyone, especially the vulnerable, and to act with compassion.
These readings connect through the theme of God's care and our response. Ezekiel's shepherd and Matthew's judgment both emphasize caring for others as a reflection of our relationship with God. Corinthians provides the hope that sustains us as we live out this compassion.
In daily life, we are called to feed the hungry, visit the sick, and welcome strangers, recognizing Christ in each action. Our treatment of others has eternal implications, urging us to live with mercy and justice. The moral lesson is clear: our love for God is evident in how we treat His children, especially the most vulnerable. Let us strive to live in such a way that our actions reflect the love and care of the Good Shepherd.