Today’s Reading is particularly frightening.

“Jesus said to His disciples, ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.

(What are these nations?  Catholic Fundamentalism may be correct in thinking of them not as English, French, Canadian, or Spanish.  We think that “nations” in this passage identifies groups separated by degreed of belief and obedience.  Those, for instance, who believed in and supported abortion on demand may be in one nation.   Those who were for abortion, but against partial-birth abortion may be in an adjoining “nation”.  Those who supported birth control might be a nearby “nation”.  People who gave into each of the 7 Deadly Sins may be in The Seven Separate Nations of the Damned, which are all various spiritual species among the goats.)

And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

(And, it becomes apparent that those who are saved did not know why they were being saved.  Those blessed to be found among His favored, the sheep, are identifiable by the care and concern they showed for the less fortunate.  The “King”, God, Himself, then makes the surprising announcement that the poor and unfortunate are actually His brothers.  So, when we help the less fortunate, we are helping God’s brothers and sisters, a fact unknown to the goats.)

Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life.”

Then, His terrible condemnation falls upon the Nations of the Goats.  They are sentenced to eternal punishment because they did not help the King’s less fortunate family members.  Instead, they focused their efforts upon themselves.   So, He tells them, “Depart from me, you accursed,  into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.”  And, off they go.

Many believe these are simply parables.  Catholic Fundamentalism believes that they are literally true.  We spend a lot of time in fear, trying to do better, hoping and praying that we will be found worthy to be numbered among His sheep.