23 October 2020
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
As He has throughout the week, Jesus again exhorts us to always bear the future in mind. He shames the crowds, pointing out how they are perfectly able to pay attention to the signs Nature and thus amend their lives accordingly, yet they cannot or will not do so spiritually. The prophets have warned them; John the Baptist did as well. Jesus Himself has come as the greatest sign of things to come, and yet they ignore Him.
As Christians we must be watchful, paying attention to the ways God works in our lives, yes, but also living according to what we know is coming; in this case, our judgement. The Church teaches that “Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul—a destiny which can be different for some and for others. Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven—through a purification or immediately—or immediate and everlasting damnation. ‘At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.’ –St. John of the Cross” (CCC 1021-1022)
We know that at the end of our lives, at a moment we will never know, we will encounter Christ as our judge. Our life will be examined, fully revealed, and judged by how we loved God and neighbor, or how we did not. For what is Heaven but a perfect communion of love with God and the rest of the redeemed? If we live a life of hatred or indifference to either or both—if we live as though we ourselves are the most important person in our lives—how can we possibly hope for Heaven? We have never wanted it. Knowing, then, that we will one day be judged, why not live in preparation of that trial, and seek to line up witnesses both on earth and in Heaven who will testify of your goodness and holiness at your trial? Why not, while in this world, “…make an effort to settle the matter on the way…” by making amends for your sins, by going to confession, and by doing penance? Then, when you stand before Christ your judge, He will see that you have already settle many matters on the way; you took to heart your prayer “…forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us…” (Luke 11:4).
For if we live our lives for today only, without keeping our hoped-for future in mind, what is to become of us? If we live as though our sins, our choices, have no impact at all and we let our sins pile up, deferring that spiritual maintenance until our foundation of sand collapses and takes our whole house with it, what then? Our Lord will say to us “I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny,” and may it be we find ourselves owing little, and not an impossible amount (cf. Matthew 18:21-35).