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The
'Law and Order' Moment
November
23-24, 2002
Fr. George Smiga
Matthew
25:31-46
There
has always been a certain amount of fascination with courtroom
dramas. Those of us who are old enough to remember the early
days of television, can perhaps remember "Perry Mason".
Most of us today know of, and perhaps watch, shows such as
"The Practice" and "Law and Order". The
best of these shows have a moment on which everything turns,
a sentence which determines all else that follows. It is usually
in the courtroom when a lawyer asks a particular question
or a witness gives a particular response. Suddenly it becomes
obvious who is guilty and who is innocent. In an instant we
know the true nature of the characters. Perhaps, in honor
of the leading television show, we should call this moment,
"the Law and Order Moment." For this is the moment
when all the pieces fall into place, the sentence on which
everything else depends,.
Today's
gospel gives us the ultimate "Law and Order Moment."
The courtroom is the entire world and Jesus is the judge,
sitting on his royal throne.
We are the ones called before him to justify ourselves, and
the sentence will be either eternal damnation or eternal life.
We would be wise to hire the best lawyers and carefully examine
both our plea and our defense. But the whole trial will be
determined by one sentence, one "Law and Order Moment."
That sentence is: "Whatever you do for the least
of my brothers or sisters, you do for me." This is the
moment that determines our destiny; the turning point that
seals our fate.
It is
crucial to recognize that the most important word in that
sentence is the word "least." Because what
this "Law and Order Moment" tells us, is that we
are not going to be judged on how well we love those who are
closest to us, but rather on how we love those who do not
seem to be connected to us. We are not going to be judged
on how well we love those that we like, but rather on how
we love those who are difficult to love---the least
of our brothers and sisters. In this courtroom, it is not
enough to come forward and say: "I have loved somebody."
Everybody loves somebody. It would be inhuman or monstrous
to go through life, never loving anyone. In this courtroom
we are expected to do more. As good as it is, loving our friends,
our spouse, our children, is not the love that determines
our fate. It is not the love that shapes the "Law and
Order Moment."
This Judge
expects more from us. He expects us to accept the geeky kid
at school who everyone else shuns. He expects us to be patient
with a co-worker who irks us. He expects us to forgive the
person who has hurt us and to welcome the relative who has
disappointed us. He expects us to help those who have no connection
to us, other than the fact that they stand in need of our
help. He asks us to love the least among us.
Although
that expectation may seem too demanding and a bit unfair,
it is motivated by the best intention. Because this Judge
has an agenda, an agenda for the world. This Judge wants to
establish God's Kingdom, a kingdom in which violence and hatred
cease, a kingdom in which justice and peace reign, a kingdom
in which all people can share a common life and joy. Jesus
knows that that Kingdom will never be established if people
simply love their own. The Kingdom of God can never take root
as long as men and women love only those who love them in
return. There is no hope for the world as long as we are willing
only to love those who are easy to love. That is why this
Judge calls for disciples who are willing to do more, who
are willing to love those who are difficult and those who
have no easy claim on our love. That is the norm to which
Jesus will hold us accountable, to love the least of our brothers
and sisters.
Today's
gospel reveals the measure against which we will be judged,
to love the least among us. It is a measure which is
difficult, but it is certainly not one which is hidden. Today's
gospel makes it crystal clear, as clear as the difference
between innocence and guilt, as clear as the difference between
sheep and goats. On that last day when we come before the
Lord, there will be no surprise turns or revelations, such
as we find on Perry Mason and Law and Order. We know the sentence
against which our lives will be measured. So now is the time
to start collecting the evidence. Now is the time to start
preparing our defense. Now is the time when it might be necessary
to start changing our lives.
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