NOTES: 1] Next week, on to MK. 2] Remember that JN in his Gospel sees the Cross as Jesus' glorious throne. 3] re: Judgment. Our continuation in eternal life 'then' depends on our living God's quality of life now. God's time is always NOW.

WARMING UP: Can we always tell the difference between a sheep & a goat at first glance?

TREASURES OLD & NEW: Identify God in anything that's happened this week?

ENTERING INTO THE STORY:

31-32   Do we give as much thought to this apocalyptic (= divinely revealed) side of Jesus as we do to his human side revealed on earth? Does one appeal to us more than the other? If so, can we say why? Which 'side' of Jesus do we find it easier to take on board & relate to? How much do we separate them from each other, or compartmentalise these 'sides' in the way we think about & practise our faith? Do we look at what Jesus says more logically (with our 'left brain') or more imaginatively (with our 'right brain'? Is there a streak in us that believes God wouldn't separate people out as in this yarn? What if Jesus says God does?

33-46   Do we usually think of God blessing us because of the way we act toward others, or because of how 'religious' we are towards God? Which are we better at? Does 'from the foundation of the world' help us get God's divine plan in perspective, or do we think of God operating more on an ad-hoc basis? Which do we ourselves operate from in relation to God & others?
             Does what Jesus says here have any relevance to the way we respond to a world where the haves live it up & the have nots starve; where many don't have adequate or clean drinking water; where people who want to make their home in another country are chased away; where countless people of all ages don't have enough clothing to keep them warm; where medical / hospital treatment is either not available or only available for those who can pay for it; where people are imprisoned, for good reason or not, in 'detention centres', prisons, or places like Guantanamo Bay????? Or is none of this our business or our responsibility? How does Jesus tell whether we're a sheep or a goat?
             Do we actually know any of the 'least members of God's family'? How do we recognize them for who they are?

If we could see our life in a 'flash-back', would we recognize ourself 'passing by' Jesus in the person of someone in need of one kind or another? If this is the case, though we can't put the clock back, is there something we could do even now for them / for ourselves? If this is all too hard, how can we can break it into manageable 'bites' we can do something about?

Is eternal life anything more than continuing to enjoy God for ever, even better than we're enjoying him now? Is eternal punishment anything more than consigning ourself to live without the Cosmic God for ever because we choose to live without the Earthed God here & now? If we choose to live without God now, can we expect to be able to bear living with God 'later'? If we choose to live in hell now, can we expect to be able to bear living in 'heaven' later? Who needs hell-fire & damnation hanging over their head if we are already experiencing such a fate right now?