Weekly Reflection 11/17/19

REFLECTION

Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

November 16-17, 2019

     Our liturgical year is about to end and the Church presents the “parusia” to us (the second coming of Christ), while at the same time the Church wants us to think of our last days: death, judgment, hell or heaven. A journey destination conditions its planning. There are two destinations: heaven or hell. Nobody goes to heaven or hell by force. God is fair, and gives everyone the opportunity to choose. To each destination, God give us the deserved prize, nothing more nothing less.

     If you wish to go to hell, you will be able to behave in a given way according to the end point of your trip. If you opt for heaven, instead, you will have to be coherent with the Glory you are trying to attain. Always, freely He does not punish or bestow honors at random, driven by sympathy or dislike. He respects our freedom. We must bear in mind, though, that when leaving this world, we will not be any more free to choose. The tree will remain fallen by the side it came down.

     “To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from him forever by our own free choice” (Catechism of the Church n. 1033).

     Can you imagine the greatness of the spectacle? Men and women of all races and all times, with our resurrected body and soul, to appear before Jesus Christ, who is presiding over the ceremony with great power and majesty. He will come to judge us in front of everybody else. If getting in would not be for free, it would still be worthwhile… The truth of all actions, whether innermost or outer, will then be known. We shall then find out whom do monies, sons, books, projects and everything else, belong to: “The days will come when there shall not be left one stone upon another of all that you now admire; all will be torn down” (Lk 21:6). Days of joy and glory for some; days of shame and sadness for others. Whatever you do not want publicly to appear then, you can delete it now through a well-made confession. You cannot improvise such a solemn and compromising act. Jesus already warns us: “Take care not to be deceived, for many will come claiming my title” (Lk 21:8). Are you ready now?

                                                                                                                                                                                          Fr. Jaime Garcia