Today’s Gospel reading is very powerful – it talks about the final judgment. Not THE FINAL JUDGMENT which is at the end of the world, but our own final judgment – when we die and come face to face with God.
The word “death” is not explicitly mentioned in the Gospel. Rather, St. Luke relates to us how Jesus went about from town to town preaching the good news of the Kingdom. And when someone asked Him “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered enigmatically,
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door” (Judgment) “then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.” And you will say ‘We ate and drank in your company, and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers! ‘And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God. And you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Lazarus and the Rich Man
This reminds me of the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man. When Lazarus died, he was taken up to the bosom of Abraham, while the Rich Man went down into the netherworld. When he saw Lazarus comfortably reposing, he begged for a little mercy (drop of water to cool his tongue) but none was forthcoming – it was too late for that. A wide chasm separated the two destinations.
I think about death often, not in gruesome terms, but in relation to the afterlife. I pray to hear the words “Welcome good and faithful servant” and be invited into Heaven (or at least Purgatory for some soul-cleansing).
I do, however, worry about lots of other people, and what their fates might be, especially when they clearly live in violation of God’s teachings. Some of these people are rich and powerful, famous, and in positions of great authority. However, when we die, we cannot take any of our wealth or possessions with us; nor will our fame or popularity or importance count for anything.
Each Moment as the Last
I pray that everyone realizes the importance of living each moment as if it were their last. If you were to meet God all of a sudden (none of us know when we’re going to die), would you be dressed in the appropriate attire to meet your God and King?
We certainly do NOT want to hear the words “Depart from me, all you evildoers!”
The key to living a righteous and virtuous life, are spelled out in the first reading:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ…Masters, act in the same way towards them, and stop bullying…”
Truly these are the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (BIBLE).
Let us, therefore, keep our eyes firmly on God and strive to live faithfully to the teachings of the Gospel, so that when the time comes, we will be welcomed into the heavenly banquet that God has prepared for each of us.
Beautifully stated.