Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 7th Sunday during Easter.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The seventh article of the Apostle’s Creed is “From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.” There are three (3) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 682.
On a day, at an hour we do not know, Jesus Christ is returning to judge the living and the dead (cf. Acts 17:31; 2 Timothy 4:1). On the last day when the new heavens and the new Earth are made and all times ceases we either enter the eternal “now” of Heaven or we have a less pleasant destination (cf. 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 14:3; 21:1). The last two (2) commandments of the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) treat some of the “secret dispositions of the heart” (not to covet neighbor’s wife or goods). Sins of greed and of lust are not always “acted out” but are nonetheless corrosive for our spiritual lives and our loving response to God’s holy will as expressed in the Law and the Prophets. These are some of the “secret dispositions of the heart” as are sins of doubt and of pride which likewise may fester within without external manifestations. All of these will be made known to all by the Lord at the Last Judgement, also called the Final Judgement (cf. Romans 2:16). Likewise our repentance (or lack thereof) be made known. While we should and do morn our sins we rejoice in God’s mercy received.
Contrary to portrayals of Jesus Christ as “wimpy”on South Park or as “Buddy Jesus” in the sacrilegious film Dogma, the real Jesus Christ will come in glory to judge the living and the dead (cf. Matthew 7:2; John 5:22, 30; 8:26; Acts 10:42). It is true that Jesus did not fight back against the Romans or others during His sojourn among us (cf. Matthew 26:53). Yet the very holiness of His life and Person actually constitute a resistence to all that is sinful. Those who are still living will be judged by the Lord upon His return in glory while for those who have already died and received their sentence in the “particular judgment” that verdict will be made “public.”
We will be judged by Jesus Christ according to the works we have done (or failed to do) (cf. Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6; 2 Timothy 4:14; Revelation 2:23). While we are not to do good works for others to see (cf. Matthew 6:2) our love and fidelity for God are shown by our deeds, our works. Good deeds done under the impulse of grace are rewarded by God. Evil deeds too precede us to the judgement seat of God and if unrepented bring about our eternal condemnation.
We will be judged by Jesus Christ according to our welcome (or refusal) of God’s grace given in many and various ways, especially in Baptism, Penance and Eucharist and the other Sacraments.
God bless you!