Daily Readings - Sun Nov 22 2020
Ezekiel
11"'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.12As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.15I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.16I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.17"'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.
1 Corinthians
20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.28When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
Matthew
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on God’s care for His people, the triumph of Christ over sin and death, and the call to live out our faith through acts of love and mercy. In the first reading from Ezekiel, we hear the Lord describe Himself as a shepherd who seeks out His scattered flock, heals the broken, and strengthens the weak. This passage is a beautiful expression of God’s compassion and His commitment to restoring His people. It was addressed to the Israelites during a time of exile and despair, offering them hope that God had not abandoned them and would one day gather them back to Himself.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians expands on this theme by highlighting the victory of Christ over death. Paul explains that just as death came through Adam’s sin, so too has the resurrection of the dead come through Christ. This passage reminds us that Christ’s triumph is not just a historical event but a cosmic reality that will one day bring all things under God’s authority. It encourages us to live with hope, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to share in Christ’s glory.
The Gospel from Matthew brings these themes together in the parable of the sheep and goats. Here, Jesus teaches that our ultimate judgment will be based on how we have treated the least among us—the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Those who have shown compassion and kindness to these “least ones” will inherit eternal life, while those who have neglected them will face eternal punishment. This passage is a powerful reminder that our faith is not just about what we believe but about how we live out that belief in service to others.
As we reflect on these readings, we are called to examine our own lives. Are we living as sheep who care for the vulnerable, or are we acting like goats who turn away from those in need? The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, has shown us the way to live—by loving and serving others. Let us strive to imitate His example, trusting in His promise that whatever we do for the least of His brothers and sisters, we do for Him. In doing so, we not only honor God but also become instruments of His healing and restoration in a world that desperately needs His love.