A Message from Pastor Kaji
Dear Church:
This Sunday, we turn to one of Jesus’ clearest teachings—and one of the most challenging. In Matthew 25, Jesus doesn’t talk about belief or doctrine. He talks about action. Did we feed the hungry? Welcome the stranger? Care for the sick and imprisoned?
This is love with its sleeves rolled up. It’s not abstract. It’s not sentimental. It’s a kind of love that shows up where it’s needed most.
I’m so grateful that we will take the time to remember Elder Mary Norton—a woman who dedicated her life to asking the question of whether or not she was living this text. Not for credit. But with quiet faithfulness. Even if you didn’t know her, I think her story will help us all reflect on how we live out what we believe. Rev. Richard suggested this particular text as especially emblematic of her life. So I’m thankful that we get to reflect on it, holding up her life in conversation with Jesus. Well done, good and faithful.
I can’t wait to see you on Sunday.
Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji
Matthew 25:31-46 (Year A, p. 489): “When the Son of Woman comes in his glory with all the angels, then will he sit on the throne of his glory. 32 And gathered before him will be all the nations and he will separate them one from another just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will put the sheep on his right and the goats at the left. 34 Then shall the one who rules say to those at his right, ‘Come, those blessed by my Abba; inherit the realm prepared for you all from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you all gave me food; I was thirsty and you all gave me drink; a stranger and you all gathered me in. 36 Naked and you all clothed me; I was sick and you all cared for me; in prison and you all visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer asking, ‘Majesty, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and gather you in, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the one who rules will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you all, as much as you all did for one of the least of these my kindred, you all did it to me.’ 41 “Then the one who rules will say to those on the left, ‘Go from me, all you who are accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you all gave me no food; I was thirsty and you all gave me no drink; 43 a stranger and you all did not gather me in, naked and you all did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you all did not care for me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, asking, ‘Majesty, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then the ruler will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you all, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you all did not do it for me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Study Guide Questions:
1. What part of Matthew 25 stands out most to you—and why?
2. When have you seen someone live out this kind of “boots-on-the-ground” faith?
3. What keeps us from responding to people’s needs with love and immediacy?
4. How do we balance compassion with exhaustion or overwhelm?
5. Jesus says, “Just as you did it to one of the least of these…you did it to me.” What does that mean for how we see one another?
6. What would it look like to treat every person you encounter as Christ?
7. How does this teaching stretch your understanding of what God wants from us?
8. Who has shown up for you when you were in need?
9. What small acts of love are within your reach this week?
10. If someone remembered your life through this scripture, what would they say?