After a long series of stories about the need for keeping alert, being watchful, staying at the ready, the time of anticipation is finally over. In today’s gospel text Jesus describes what will occur when the long-awaited “Son of Man” at last makes his appearance. As Jesus describes what will occur at that much anticipated event, his presentation assumes the now familiar parable form. But Jesus is not just offering another parable. He is describing the definitive day of judgment.

Although this judgment scene seems to be straightforward, there is actually considerable debate about exactly who is being judged and what particular criterion for judgment is being used. The description of the Son of Man enthroned on high and judging all the nations of the world is an image that has its roots in…