ARE WE READY FOR DIVINE JUDGEMENT DAY?
Today, Jesus is warning us to be vigilant for His Second Coming as Judge and Jury (Lk12:32-48). He affirms that God has given us the Kingdom since baptism, however, it is necessary to practice our faith seriously, in order to claim this eternal inheritance. We are not to be distracted by the devil, who is described as a thief, who can steal our faith. Satan is like a moth trying to block the light of Christ. When it is our time to depart this earth, Jesus must find us to have shared the banqueting table of heaven with Him in every Sunday Mass. Mass is a piece of heaven here on earth. To not go to Mass is to not want to go to heaven. We should focus getting to heaven, our true homeland (Heb 11:1-2,8-19). Jesus is telling us to preserve the gift of faith, at all cost and live it by filling the purse of our hearts with charitable loving works, like a purse that never wears out. Jesus talks about a master, who leaves his servants but returns unexpectedly with the intention of finding them working as instructed. Jesus is referring to Himself. He says that He will place an apron on Himself and sit the faithful down at the banqueting Mass table in heaven and wait on them. He warns about suffering and severe punishment awaiting the unfaithful.
FAITH IS LIKE A BURNING FLAME
Keeping our lamps lit, means keeping the flame of faith burning brightly for all to see and not hide it. Jesus cannot emphasise enough, how we must always be ready to receive Him. He is sure to come and will exercise His Divine Justice before His Divine Mercy. Regular confessions keeps our souls clean from sin and prepares us for the day He returns to take us from this world. Jesus told St. Faustina of Divine Mercy that, when on earth, if we go through the doors of His divine mercy in confession, then we will avoid going through the doors of His divine justice beyond the grave. Repenting for our sins now, prepares us for divine judgement. Our time on earth is sacred and we must use it wisely. It is a gift from God for the purpose to worship Him by obedience and prepare ourselves through repentance. Do we ever ponder on that moment after death, when we will all kneel before the Judgement seat of Christ, our Judge? St James (2:12-13), reminds us that we should be living like people destined for judgement. To be merciful towards each other now, will enable us to triumph over our Day of Judgement. We are not to miss-use this time of waiting, as an excuse to go off and sin and be self-indulgent… Much is expected of us by God our Father. As His children, we cannot claim ignorance, by denying Jesus did not warn us! God bless, Fr. Brendan.