The “Beltline” is a main street in Collinsville. The other day cars were lined up on the shoulder, unusual because the stores on the Beltline have ample parking. Ah, they were lined up for a drive-through Covid test. This morning’s New York Times shows a far greater lineup of cars outside of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, all waiting to be tested.
In Sunday’s Gospel lesson, Jesus previews the final judgment, sheep and goats lined up for the verdict, not if you have Covid but will you receive the heavenly inheritance (Matthew 25:31-46). That’s a deceptive passage. I don’t mean Jesus is being deceptive; what’s deceptive is how we hear it. Because Jesus presents it as something future, we hear it as “not now but yet to come, someday.” That’s where Jesus’ enemy, the devil tricks us. “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile” (1 Peter 1:17). Latch onto the present tense, “who judges impartially.” You and I are being judged right now by God. People in line for the test already have Covid or do not. When your final judgment comes, it’s already been decided.
God’s judgment is according to works. People stumble at the Athanasian Creed, “those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire,” but it’s true, taught by Matthew 25 and many other passages. The standard of judgment is the commandments, “do this and you shall live” (Luke 10:28). Obey authorities God has placed over you” (Fourth Commandment). Help the life and health of others (Fifth Commandment). Honor marriage and be sexually pure (Sixth Commandment). Don’t damage others’ property (Seventh Commandment). Don’t say or post what hurts another’s reputation (Eighth Commandment). How’s America doing on all that right now? On earth, history will judge us. In the final line, God already has evidence against us.
Which would bring us to despair if we didn’t have Jesus. “I am Jesus’ little lamb… And when my short life is ended, / by His angel host attended, / He shall fold me to His breast, / There within His arms to rest” (Lutheran Service Book, 740:3). There’s nothing left for us now except to do good to others. “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Our Covid conduct is being watched.
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