Thornton Ridinger

First Reading

Context

From the prophet Micah. Likely wrote in the 8th century BCE. His theme is judgment and forgiveness. God judges and scatters his people for sin, but, with great faithfulness, also gathers, forgives, and calls them to right living.

Micah 6:6–8 NRSVue

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?

Context

From the gospel of Matthew.

Jesus talked consistently about the Kingdom of God and the relationship between eternal life and righteous living.

His disciples have asked Jesus, when will the end of the world be?

Jesus responds not with a date, but a word about right living.

Matthew 25:31–46 NRSV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me 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 nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

INTRODUCTION

A funeral service makes us think about the significance of life and death. The relationship between the two. Does what we believe, does what we do, make any difference, if so, how?

Jesus was clear that life is significant. What we do here and now matters for eternity.

EXEGESIS

At the end of time Jesus will sit on a throne. Glory. Angels.

All the nations. Leaves on the trees of a forest.

Separate them one at a time.

Some on his left and some on his right.

Jesus knows each one...the details and the ACTIONS of their lives.

To those on his right...enter into eternal life and joy...for their deeds of love and compassion.

Visiting, feeding, clothing, caring. ME.

To those on the left, depart...for you did none of these things to ME.

Both groups of people are surprised. When did we every see YOU and do that? When did we see YOU and NOT do that.

They never saw Christ himself!

It didn’t seem so spiritual, so eternal in consequence.

Yet Jesus says: As surely as you did it to the least of these. You did it to me.

Jesus identifies himself with the poor, the imprisoned, the naked, the stranger, the sick.

God is love and Jesus is the expression of God’s love.

Love for those who need it most. All of us and especially those who suffer in any way.

His command, love one another as I have loved you. Serve one another, as I have served you. In this way you will be my disciples.

When you served, loved, helped, prioritized others, you were showing that you belong to my Kingdom.

Micah: this is what the Lord requires - do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

Jesus says that on the great day he will say to those who lived this way…come walk with me in my kingdom.

INTERPRETATION

Thornton was a man who cared about others and worked hard on their behalf.

Florida Military School, graduate 1959. Instilled service before self.

lifelong ties to that institution.

1966-69 US Army as a First Lieutenant in Vietnam.

Morris Harvey College in WV. BA in Political Science.

Pennsylvania State University, MA Public Administration.

This work created a lifelong interest in the light of disadvantaged people in our society.

He was active in organizations focused on issues such as homelessness, and in his retirement, enjoyed being a part of FAITH of Volusia County - Fighting Against Injustice Toward Harmony.

Masonic Lodge chapters in Illinois and Florida. Local Kiwanis. Doing good deeds in the community.

1965 Various positions within the state of Illinois government and retired in 1999 as the Manger of the Division of Economic Opportunity, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.

Theme through it all.

How we should live in society together, how we should treat each other.

Center of the Bible Message: Love God and Love Others, and these two are united.

He served as a Deacon and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church.

Men’s Bible Study.

favorite Bible: “The Poverty and Justice Bible”

Did he ever see Jesus when he was performing all this service. No.

But Jesus was seeing him.

Every time Thornton invested himself in making our community better — and in these ways meeting the needs of others — he was by extension doing these things for the great King.

He was showing Jesus’ love and concern for others.

As much as his service was apparent to the community, it was known even more by his family. The direct, constant recipients of her love and dedication.

big sister Carol.

children Jeffery (Karie), Michael (Dana), Cathy (Dan)

five grandchildren.

Jesus to him: when you did this to them, you did it to me.

When you sat in those councils, you represented me. When you bore the burden of responsibility, you did it for me. When you noticed the needy, you were looking out for me.

Jesus receives Thornton into the glory prepared for him and which he showed by his earthly life he was already a part of.

APPLICATION

Whenever a saint goes home to be with the Lord, he or she leaves behind an example of Christ for the rest of us to take to heart.

Thornton’s example: serve others, care about what is right.

Jesus said, two greatest commandments

love the Lord you God with all your heart

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Thornton I loved in word and deed.

In the time that is left to us...before Jesus comes back or before we go to him, let us embody the love of Jesus like Thornton did, so that we can be welcomed like he has been.

Volunteer some time

Take responsibility

Envision change and effect it

Invest in your community

Be faithful to your family.

When you do these things you are my disciples, like Thornton did. Enter into glory, like Thornton did.