The Importance of Sheep & Goats – Your Weekly Reflection
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King, the conclusion of our liturgical year. In today’s Gospel, Jesus describes the final judgment of the Son of Man. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates sheep and goats upon their return from the pasture. The judgments made by the Son of Man will be based upon the acts of mercy shown to the least ones—the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, and the ill.
The Church calls the actions that Jesus describes as Corporal Works of Mercy. These works are to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to bury the dead, to shelter the homeless, to visit the sick and imprisoned, and to give alms to the poor. Through these actions, we show God’s compassion and mercy to those in need. That’s why we’re asking everyone in our global faith community to support our effort to provide the Gift of Goats to families in need on Giving Tuesday, November 28th. In today’s Gospel, goats get a bad rap. In scripture, sheep usually symbolize the good and goats symbolize the bad. But in the countries where we work, goats are like money in the bank to a poor family in need.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. – Matthew 25:31-46
On Giving Tuesday last year, our generous CMMB family donated more than $25,000 to share the Gift of Goats with 2,500 people living in extreme poverty in Haiti. The Gift of Goats has helped vulnerable families by giving women and children the extra nutrition and income they need. Goats provide milk for children, and fertilize home gardens so they produce more.
Based on last year’s incredible response and generosity, we’re doubling our Giving Tuesday 2017 goal. That means we only have until midnight on Tuesday to raise $50,000 to help 5,000 people with the Gift of Goats, and we’re expanding our reach to families in Haiti and Kenya. Through a special match campaign, all Giving Tuesday donations will be doubled. Please give if you can. Any amount is appreciated.
Each Sunday, the gospels teaches us that the gifts we have been given are intended to be used for the service of others, especially the poor. Our final judgment before God will be based not only on how we’ve used these gifts and talents, but also on how we have extended ourselves in service to others.
Jesus tells us that whenever we have served these least ones, we have served Christ himself. Please pray that we reach our Giving Tuesday goal to support families living in extreme poverty.
Today’s reflection was inspired by and adapted from the Loyola Press Sunday Connection.
Supporting families with the Gift of Goats is as easy as 1-2-3.
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