Judgment

1. At the end of our life we will be judged by God

‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil,
according to what he has done in the body.’ (1 Cor 5: 10)

Parable of the talents. ‘After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with
them.’ (Math 25:19)

2. The door that leads to eternal life is narrow

Some Evangelic sects every time someone dies, speak of ‘Promotion to glory’. They assume that any
Christian of their sect goes to heaven.

In a pod cast, Fr. Barron (now bishop) claimed that very few go to hell. His opinion was founded mostly
on the Eschatology of Von Balthazar. St. Augustine is not so optimistic. And Jesus often cautions us
about the danger of being condemned.

Sister Lucia had a conversation with a priest who wanted to know whether in the vision of hell she saw
just a few souls screaming in the sea of flames. ‘After all God is a merciful God’ the priest commented.
But Sister Lucia said to him ‘Father, I saw many’.

‘But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium (to Lystra) and won over the crowds. Then they stoned
Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples surrounded
him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had
proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to
Iconium and Antioch. There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to
continue in the faith, saying, "It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of
God."’ (Act 14:19-22)

‘For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the
Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ (Mk 8: 38)

3. We need to examine our life and conscience

The lazy servant was not aware of his laziness… David ignored his sin. God sent Nathan the prophet to
‘wake him up’. ‘You are the man’ Nathan told him…

4. During our life on earth we gain merits for heaven through good works

Let me bring up here the concept of merit. Jesus speaks about gathering a treasure in heaven and
making oneself rich in the eyes of God.

‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves
break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes
and where thieves do not break in and steal.’ Math 6: 19-20

‘So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.’ Lk 12:21

5. At the close of the age, when the world comes to an end, we will be judged again: the last Judgment
'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his
throne of glory. All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another
as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on
his left.’ (Mat 25:31-33)

Justice will be restored

6. Everything will come to light

A farmer, whose corn crop had not done well, decided to borrow from his prosperous neighbour’s field.
With a large cutlass tucked under his arm, and his small son dogging his footsteps, he hurried to a
distant corner of the field.
On arrival, he peered cautiously to the left, to the right, ahead and behind, to make sure he was not
observed.
Just as he reached out a hand to pluck the first ear of corn, the lad spoke. "Daddy" he reminded, "you
didn't look up!"

‘For nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.’ Math 10:26

7. The body will be made partaker of the either reward or punishment of the soul

8. But the Last Judgment for a good Christian is a chance to make God happy

The Way 182 “Let us drink to the last drop the chalice of pain in this poor present life. —What does it
matter to suffer for ten years, twenty, fifty... if afterwards there is heaven for ever, for ever... for ever?”
—And, above all - rather than for the reason I've given, propter retributionem because of the reward -
what does suffering matter if we suffer to console, to please God Our Lord, in a spirit of reparation,
united to Him on his Cross - in a word, if we suffer for Love?...

You can see joy in the words of the master –God- to his faithful servants: ‘Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’
(Mat 25:21)

In another parable something very unusual happens: the master ministers on the servant. ‘Blessed are
those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and
have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them.’ (Lk 12: 37)

The Glory of God is found in his creatures, when they achieve the purpose for which they were created.

There is joy in heaven when a sinner repents… our forgiven sins will also be a cause for joy in the Last
Judgment. God’s mercy will shine. Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo. ‘I will sing of thy steadfast
love, O LORD, for ever; with my mouth I will proclaim thy faithfulness to all generations.’ (Psalm 89
[88]:1)

9. Confession is a judgment of mercy

Two men in a train-compartment up to London; one grey-haired and thoughtful, the other young,
restless, worried, seemingly afraid of ticket-collectors, etc. At last the elderly man spoke: 'I feel you are
in trouble. Can I help in any way?’
‘No sir -no one can help me-... but you are a stranger, I shall never see you again, and I feel I can trust
you... It will be a relief to tell you my story.’
It was a sad story, told frankly. In order to help his mother, a widow, he begun to work for two older
men who turned out to be hardened thieves. The three attempted a serious robbery. A night-watchman
surprised them and gave the alarm, and was shot by one of the older men, who were both captured by
the police.
They blamed the murder on to the youth, who had managed to get away; and now there was a warrant
out for his arrest. He was going to London to hide.
The old gentleman looked grave, but spoke kindly.
‘I strongly advise you to give yourself up, and tell your whole story in court, just as you have told it to
me.’
‘Ah, but you are so understanding - it was easy to tell you. I would be afraid in court. But at last he
promised.
The court was crowded for the trial, and the youth, pale and trembling, was led into the dock and stood
with downcast eyes. The charge was read out and he was asked to make his statement. Hardly able to
speak from fear, he raised his eyes to the judge-and started with amazement and relief. The judge was
none other than his friend of the train!

Let us encourage many to go to confession, the sacrament of mercy: ‘Let us, then, have no fear in
approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help.’ (Heb
4:16)