Welcoming a Friend at the End? (19.C)

 

Today’s Gospel, obviously enough, is about how we are judged when we die or at the Last Judgement—whichever comes first.

Most of us think that day is a long way off. But my perspective was sharpened when a distant memory of the Challenger disaster came randomly to mind. For some reason it sent me looking for television footage from that tragic day.

What I found was a clip on You Tube which began with the astronauts, including a 37 year old schoolteacher, Christa McAuliffe, happily having breakfast together. It ends, of course, with the catastrophic explosion one minute and thirteen seconds after the launch.

I have to tell you that was a pretty good way of preparing to reflect on the possibility of a sudden end. In fact, watching the event made me want to preach more seriously than usual on these words of Jesus.

I found some very sober thoughts from Blessed James (Giacomo) Alberione, that are more powerful than anything I could say. He was a twentieth-century Italian priest who founded at least five modern religious orders. The first two, the Daughters of St. Paul and the Pauline Fathers, are best known for promoting the faith through modern media, so he ought to be a very good communicator.

Here is what Father Alberione said:

In whatever place we die, there shall the judgment-seat be erected, and we shall face it alone, accompanied only by our deeds, good or bad. Christ has no need of witnesses, neither of the devil’s accusations nor of the saints’ defense of us.

He knows all things; He is the all-wise Judge. He sees our minds and the thoughts entertained there. He knows the whole story, in detail, from start to finish.

Christ knows every sentiment of our heart, from the lowest to the holiest. He knows these sentiments in all their particulars, in all their fine points, in all their intensity. Christ knows every word uttered, from the first moment of our use of reason down to the last time our lips formed a word.

Every word is written in the book of life—empty words, holy words, forgot­ten words.... Christ knows all our most sublime actions as well as the most common, and the worst. He knows every step we have taken, the studies we have pursued, our relationships and correspondence, our daily routine of home life....

Furthermore, the Lord knows how much should have been done... He knows the degree of health a per­son had, the degree of intelligence, keenness of mind, memory, and ability; the graces given in childhood, youth and adult­hood.... There is an eye that sees everything, everywhere, always. There is an ear that hears everything, everywhere and always.... They belong, so to speak, to God.

What tremendous consolation for good souls... Jesus will remember everything ^-those victories over our passions, those repressions of angry impulses, that diligence at work.... If the judgment were to take place now, could we say that we have, for the most part, been faithful to God? ... Judgment will come. For the sinner it will be a terrible encounter.... And what bliss will flood the faithful soul when he at last meets Jesus.... It will be the long awaited embrace of friend with Friend.

I found this quotation in one of my favourite books of homilies, S. Joseph Krempa’s Captured Fire (Cycle C, p. 121). Monsignor Krempa adds a comment that is a fitting conclusion:

We may or may not be here when the Lord appears in glory at the Second Coming. But we will all encounter the Lord when He surely comes to each of us when our earthly life is over. What will that moment be like? Will it be a moment of regret or fulfillment? Will we fear a Judge or welcome a Friend? That is up to us.