Matthew 13:47-51
'Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that is cast in the sea and brings in a haul of all kinds of fish. When it is full, the fishermen bring it ashore; then, sitting down, they collected the good ones in baskets and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the upright, to throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. 'Have you understood all these?' They said, 'Yes.'
So...there he is, the evangelist reminding us always of the presence of judgement. We are all being gathered in as the kingdom of God encircles us and enfolds us in a dragnet. Oh, and by the way, there is no discrimination...the soaring as well as the staggering...the pious and the despicable. We are all in it together.
Do we really understand this? Do we even want to understand this? It's disturbing...even to the point of consternation.
If I think about it too much I risk the folly of looking sideways at whoever else is in the net with me and wonder...so....are you one of the good ones or the bad ones? Jesus reminds us that is not our business....our business is to give up everything (even our need to know how all of this will turn out...who's "in" and who's "out")and follow.
Remember...always...Even as you are drawn into the kingdom you are being drawn into deeper intimacy with the one who will seek, find, and nourish every good morsel of human potential. That potential will expand as a result of that intimacy....and will work for the good of all.
I'd rather be in Christ's dragnet, nomatter who is in it with me, than floating about on my own...wouldn't you?
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