Gospel Reflections for November 26 2017
Today’s image of God coming to judge who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell is dramatic. Many artists have depicted the scene as well; most famously Michelangelo in his painting of The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican.
How do you picture your own judgment before God? Many have the image of standing at the Heavenly Gates with St. Peter or God looking for your name in a large book, while you wait nervously to await your fate …wondering what the verdict will be.
This is not the picture our faith has at all!
Pope John Paul II, in the years just before he died, delivered a series of powerful sermons in which he outlined our Catholic understanding of your “judgment” at the moment of your death.
At that moment, you understand the truth of your entire life completely. There is nothing unknown. You know precisely when you “gave water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, comforted the sick,” and when not. Those are the genuine ways that love is expressed …in real behavior. Love is not just good intentions, but authentic behavior for the good of others.
Jesus was the perfect example of how to be a genuine human person. When you stand before Our Lord, you will instantly see the difference between your life …and His. If your life had been about loving God, others, and yourself, then you get to continue that life of love with God and others forever in heaven. If your life had been only about selfishly loving yourself, then you get to continue that selfish love of yourself for the rest of eternity with … you guessed it …just you!
Since you will know the truth of your life with complete clarity, you will place yourself where you know you belong, either with God and others…or without God and others. God does not send you to either Heaven or Hell. Our life on earth makes the judgment for us.
Today’s Gospel describes behaviors that reveal genuine caring and concern. We take what we have, whether “food”, or “water,” or whatever gifts, talents, abilities, and resources we have and use them for some good cause.
No need to be anxious about the decision at the end of the world. We are all building our eternal home in Heaven or in Hell right here.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Oh, dear! That really puts it in perspective. No one knows when our time will come, but as we get older and less capable, like Pope John Paul II, we are more and more concerned about the outcome since it becomes more and more likely that it won’t be very long. Thank you for the words of consolation.
I think you will be in good shape whenever you meet the Lord.
Wow you really explained this so well!!
thank you
You are welcome!
Hello Fr. Dave
God is so good!!
I am so grateful to have him as our Heavenly Father. We are formed in his likeness.
Jesus leads works of mercy and love towards our brothers and sisters.
Jesus is the King of Mercy!
God Bless!
Well said!
I like your concept on our way of living here on earth determines our destiny in the next.
We send ourselves either to heaven or to hell.
In these days of Thanksgiving we give thanks to you, Fr. Dave, for your unselfish giving
of your reflections every week.
Thank! You are very welcome.
Correction:
Jesus leads US to works of mercy and love towards our brothers and sisters.
God Bless!
Hi Father Dave
Damn- your good ! I never thought about it that way – you must do this for a living !
Seriously, I really enjoy your weekly reflection; it means a lot to me.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. You’re always in our prayers.
Take care.
Gary (and Judie too)
Thank you! I am very glad you like these article. More on the way!
Dear Father Dave,
Your sentence that stands out the most to me is “Love is not just good intentions”. I recognize your ongoing theme of courage and compassion. It’s easy to feel compassion but it takes courage to act on that compassion. May we all take a step this week to do a corporal work of mercy with joy in our hearts. Thank you for your thoughtfulness every week..
Great advice. Thanks for writing.
Beautiful insight father Dave!! Live the love, share the love, be the love in caring for others!!!We will be judged on how much we have loved in helping others!!! We love you Father Dave for you are sharing your love every day in helping us to get to Heaven!! Loveeeeee it!!
Loveee, franca and Dick
You are very welcome!
Dear Father Dave, thank you for a great explanation. This is has been on my mind so much as I age, Then in October of 2003 I lost my husband of 45 years, in 2006 I lost my middle son of 5 children then in the end of this October I lost my eldest son. All I can say is without Faith in God I don’t think I could have gotten through it and I pray that they are all together now.
Thanks so much
Your message is very moving and heartfelt. Please be assurred of my prayers. You have experienced great loss, but you have gained much faith.
Always difficult homily. Don’t offend the detached they may be your base. Heard good homily today on todays scriptures. Sorry to say not always the case. Your meditation does not deny the reality that we are challenged to love our neighbors by option for the poor. Hope it was heard.
Well said!
Spot on, Fr. Dave!! Keep up the GREAT insights on how to get to heaven!!
Thank you!
Hi Father Dave
Darn- your good ! I never thought about it that way – you must do this for a living !
Seriously, I really enjoy your weekly reflection; it means a lot to me.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. You’re always in our prayers.
Take care.
Gary (and Judie too)
Yes, Thanksgiving was great this year. One of most favorite days.
Wow! Those were two of the most powerful paragraphs I believe I have ever read.
Thank you Dave!
Miss you.
Tim
You are very welcome!