We are all hybrid humans living on a right-to-left or “sheep-to-goat” scale. As we grow in our faith and love for Christ, we start to become more selfless and giving toward others, and less selfish or “goat-like.” We begin to live more on the right side of the scale of inhabitants who will be welcomed into God's kingdom.  

However, we must continually discern where we are on this scale, because there will be a judgement one day when Christ will separate the sheep-like and goat-like children of his flock to determine who is fit for his kingdom.

Right now, we all live together unseparated, and it can often be difficult to distinguish each other’s true breed. But Christ knows all of us in his flock quite well. He knows who is for him and who is not, who applies his graces and blessings for his honor and purposes, and who uses them for their own selfish purposes.

So to remain on the right side of our sheep-to-goat scale, let us regularly remind ourselves of the verses in James 2:15-17 . . . If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, '"Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Reflections on the Gospel of Matthew 25: 31-46