I enjoy photography. Some photos come out to my liking. Others not so much. On those occasions when the subject appears blurred, I know that my focus was poor, I moved as I clicked the shutter button, or the subject itself moved. Yes, there are lenses which are designed for soft focus. But, I am referring to standard lenses where the hope of the photographer is clarity.

Reading the Matthew 25 text for this coming Sunday, Christ the King Sunday, I wondered how it is that those described as goats failed to see those in need. Maybe things were blurred. Maybe the way in which they ordered their lives kept others our of focus. Interestingly it seems they were so accustomed to the way they saw the world, it was a surprise to learn there were indeed people in need they could help.

Sometimes we read these types of passages for self-consolation. “Glad I am not a goat.” But, what if every time you read this particular text you paid more attention to how you blurred others. Rather than be overly concerned with who is a goat and who is not, it may come down to asking ourselves, have we behaved like goats? Have we blurred others and become accustomed to missing those in need?

What are your thoughts?