Proper 29A 2008 Christ the king               Matthew 25:31-46

There was once a small town back before automobiles where a store owner loved to quote the Bible.  Whenever someone bought something from him, he would come with a King James Bible quote relevant to the purpose.  If someone bought a lantern he would quote:  “John 8:12 – Jesus said I am the light of the world.”

A stranger went into the store one day and said, “I want a blanket for my horse.  This horse is very special to me and I want the very best blanket you have.”

The shopkeeper went into the back and realized that he only had one kind of blanket in stock, although it came in different colors.  He took a green one out front and offered it to the stranger.  “It’s ten dollars,” he said.  “That’s not enough to be your very best blanket,” the horseman answered.

So the storekeeper went out back again and brought out a red one.  “This one’s twelve dollars,” he said.  “That’s still too cheap to be your best blanket,” said the stranger.  “Now get this straight, once and for all.  I only want the best.”

And the storekeeper brought out a blue one.  “Look at this one, how firm the fibers are, how thick it is, and how well the seams are sewn.  But, it’s one hundred dollars.”  “That’s’ more like it,’ said the stranger.  “I’ll take it.”

As the door closed behind the horseman the Bible quoting storekeeper looked up to heaven and said, “Matthew 25:35 – you were a stranger and I took you in.” (1)

I don’t think that’s quite what Jesus meant.  I suspect it was more like this story.  In 1979 The First Infantry Division deployed  from Fort Riley, Kansas, leaving by C-141 aircraft from Topeka and, after refueling in the Azores, landed in Germany.  After the tactical exercise, the Division began its redeployment by civilian charter aircraft back to the United States and Fort Riley.

One of the aircraft carrying troopers of the division’s cavalry squadron was grounded for repairs at its refueling stop in the western Hebrides of Scotland.  Theywere delayed for several days.  The young soldiers were billeted in in inns and even homes of the Scottish people in the villages near by.  I hoped my lads would behave themselves and was pleased that there were no reports of incidents, for they were very high spirited.

About a week after everyone had finally returned a letter from Scotland came in the mail.  It was from the owner of one of the local inns.  “I just wanted you to know,” he wrote, “that your soldiers were a delight to have as guests and we would welcome any of them back at any time.”

Matthew 25 – I was a stranger and you welcomed me.  I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink;  I was naked and you gave me clothing;  I was sick and you took care of me.

We are in very difficult economic times.  Heating fuel remains close to three dollars a gallon.  I doubt it will go down:  demand is high as cold weather comes on.  The poor people who dwell among us did not refill their tanks when warm weather came and now they must.  I have spent much of the last week arranging for fuel to be delivered in hundred gallon  lots to elderly ailing couples, single mothers with children, whose dilapidated trailers and dwellings are not insulated, and have no heat.

The pressure on our alms started last year when we depleted our duPont  people in need funds by August, two months before they could be replaced.  We here are already planning to increase our monthly subsidy of funds to Gleamers and Blenders, our local food bank.  And arrangements have been made with Food Lion in Heathsville to buy meat on the day before it expires for a good discount.   It goes directly to the freezers at Gleamers and Blenders.  As I drove by there yesterday the parking lot was packed to overflowing – I haven’t seen that before.  Food banks all over the commonwealth are running short.  And if it is to be a true commonwealth we need to do our part.

The thrift shop has affordable clothing -- and free clothing for the destitute, whose number is growing.  The bazaar could not come at a better time.  In short we have about maximized our efforts.  But God’s poor children need our help now and will for a long while.  This is the God-given task we have for this time and place

So which will we be and where will we stand – among the sheep or among the goats?  Choose you this day whom you will serve, said Joshua to ancient Israel.  And the sweet Lord who loves us calls us across the centuries and  beyond time and space:  choose you this day whom you will serve. 

Amen

1.  From “A Wild and Wooly Tale,” an InterNet download.