One morning I was celebrating the Eucharist in an
outstation of Iramba Parish in Musoma Diocese in Western Tanzania. Goats were
very common in the local area and prized more than sheep. Even our Catholic
Parish had a few goats kept aside for big feasts in an enclosure near the
rectory. During my homily I presented the traditional interpretation of the
“Final Judgment” passage of Matthew 25: 31-46: How in the biblical tradition
sheep are associated with the good, the righteous, the saved and eternal life
while goats are associated with the evil, the accursed and eternal punishment.
After the Eucharist was finished an old Tanzanian man came up to me and said:
"Padre, since you don’t like goats, will you give me yours?"