Scary Stuff

Scary stuff.

Judgment Day.

Jesus warns the people of his time and his place that judgment awaits them.

And that judgment will be harsh for those who failed to repent.

Failed to look at their lives and admit to the wrongs they had done.

Failed to feel any remorse for those wrongs.

Failed to feel any desire to alter course or make amends for those wrongs.

Chorazin and Bethsaida and Capernaum should have repented.

Jesus lived among them—they knew all about him.

They heard him preach; they witnessed his miracles.

They had been given much more than Tyre and Sidon and Sodom.

And to whom much is given, much is expected.

Much has also been given to Washington and Boston and Hartford and Covington.

And vast numbers of us throughout today’s world.

We know all about Jesus and his message.

His miracles, his Good News, his call for repentance.

So Jesus’ warning extends to us too.

At Mass, after the homily, we voice our prayers of the faithful; our petitions.

Sometimes we specifically pray for those who have not heard the Gospel.

And for those who have heard it but rejected it.

Is there hope for those people?

Certainly those who have never heard the Gospel can’t be punished for that.

But how about those who heard it and rejected it; who failed to repent?

Is there still hope for them?

I have hope for them.

Maybe there’s hope up to their very last moment.

We believe that there’s a particular judgment immediately after death.

When we alone face up to the life we’ve lived and learn of our eternal fate.

(Before the general judgment at the end of time.)

At least one theologian has speculated that we also get one final chance for repentance.

In the instant before death actually occurs.

That Jesus comes to those needing that last chance and offers them that opportunity.

That in his great mercy God gives us this final chance to accept salvation.

I like that.

That’s the hope I have for all those who might need it.

Can we count on that last chance?

No.

Nobody really knows the precise details on death and judgment.

But we can hope and pray that—somehow—

God does gather each one of us, from all the nations, into the peace of His Kingdom.

Tuesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time

Mt 11:20-24           Read this Scripture @usccb.org 

Penetential Rite:
You came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s Kingdom.
Lord have mercy.

You come to us in word and sacrament to strengthen us in holiness.
Christ have mercy.

You will come in glory with salvation for your people.
Lord have mercy.