Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song And Praise

Today, we come to the end of the church year calendar and the end of Matthew’s version of Jesus’ ministry.  And, as we read this passage which caps the church year, we get high drama, we get harsh judgment, and we get punishment and damnation in eternal fire!  As one who stands before you to proclaim the gospel, it is hard to read about such harsh judgment and punishment and then say, “The Good News of the Lord!”  That just seems to go against the grain, especially for those of us who believe so fully and completely in a gracious God of love.  It is initially difficult to find a picture of a gracious, loving God in this passage.  However, if we dig a bit deeper, I think we discover this passage is not so much about punishment in eternal fire, and it’s not the goats or the sheep that matter in this story; it is all about how we come face to face with God every day!  And, it really is about a very loving and gracious God! To better understand this parable, Christine Chakoian, a Presbyterian pastor and theologia