November 10, 2019
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
San León Magno, papa y doctor de la Iglesia—Memoria
«Que los muertos resucitan, incluso Moisés lo dio a conocer en el pasaje de la zarza, cuando llamó “Señor” al Dios de Abraham, al Dios de Isaac y al Dios de Jacob; y él no es Dios de muertos, sino de vivos, porque para él todos viven». Lucas 20:37-38
As we draw close to the end of this Church year, our readings begin to focus more clearly upon the final things to come. The following is an excerpt from My Catholic Faith!, Chapter 5, regarding the resurrection of the dead:
The third and final coming is when Jesus returns to Earth in splendor and glory. It will be “the end of the world as we know it.” It will be a time when His permanent Kingdom is established. There is much to say about this moment in history and it is actually quite fascinating to reflect upon.
Before you read on, open the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read paragraphs #671-677.
Wow! That’s good stuff! It almost reads as a deeply intriguing futuristic science fiction mystery novel. The only difference is that it’s all true, it’s all glorious, and it’s all beyond any mystery we will ever be able to comprehend until it actually takes place. And it will take place at one definitive moment in time to come!
Entonces, ¿qué significa todo esto? Significa que Jesús regresará con todo su esplendor y gloria. Un día volverá físicamente a la Tierra, radiante y glorioso. Lo veremos, y el mundo tal como lo conocemos ahora llegará a su fin. En ese momento, Dios establecerá su Reino definitivo, y el cielo y la tierra se unirán en uno solo. Habrá «un cielo nuevo y una tierra nueva» (Apocalipsis 21:1). El cielo y la tierra anteriores pasarán, y se establecerá el nuevo orden.
But that’s not all! At that moment in time all the dead shall rise. That’s right, all people who have ever died will rise. This means that everybody who has been “laid to rest” in a cemetery or elsewhere will be brought back to life, given a new glorified body, and that body will be rejoined to his or her soul.
El Catecismo también afirma:
Al venir al fin de los tiempos a juzgar a vivos y muertos, el Cristo glorioso revelará la disposición secreta de los corazones y retribuirá a cada hombre según sus obras y según su aceptación o su rechazo de la gracia. (#682)
This is a fascinating thought, and a bit scary, too! It means that all that is hidden will come to light. This can be good or bad depending upon what is hidden. The thought should both fill us with a bit of holy fear, and it should also fill us with a holy joy. The holy fear is actually a gift from God to help us eliminate any secret and hidden sin we have now or have struggled with in the past. Since it will in fact all come to light one day, we might as well deal with it now so that our sin is no more. If we do, even our sin is turned into virtue and grace. And then, at the end of time, that grace and virtue is what will be made manifest. This manifestation of our virtue will be the cause of holy joy not only for us but also for others to whom it is manifested.
We will be judged, then, based on what is there within our conscience. It will no longer just be exterior. We will not be able to put on a good face and pretend we are someone we are not. The full truth will come out and will be made manifest for all to see in accord with God’s plan.
Otra cosa que debemos tener en cuenta es que, en el Juicio Final, incluso quienes están en el infierno resucitarán. ¿Por qué? Porque, como seres humanos, estamos destinados a permanecer eternamente unidos a nuestros cuerpos. Somos, en esencia, cuerpo y alma. Así que incluso los muertos recuperarán sus cuerpos. Pero, tristemente, entonces sufrirán eternamente, no solo espiritual sino también físicamente. No sabemos qué implicará esto en realidad. Pero será una verdadera pena de daño: la pérdida de Dios y la privación de poder participar, en cuerpo y alma, de la vida con Dios. Esto puede parecer duro e injusto, pero debemos recordar que Dios es perfectamente justo y perfectamente amoroso, y que, sea cual sea la forma en que se vivan esta pérdida eterna y este sufrimiento eterno, será algo recto y justo.
What will this new life look like for those who share in the Resurrection to new life? It will be life with God, physically and spiritually, as well as life with each other. The Book of Revelation speaks symbolically of this new life as a city where God is on the throne in the center of the city. Light shines forth from Him so there is no need for the sun or moon. The streets are gold. The gates filled with precious stones. And so much more. This symbolic language should not be taken literally, rather, it should be seen as imagery that helps us understand the beauty, splendor, and magnificence of the life that awaits us. It’s the new Heavens and new Earth. I can’t wait!
Lord, may I always be ready to greet You when You come. I thank You for Your perfect promise of raising all from the dead and bringing forth new life. Use me to gather many into this future and glorious Kingdom, dear Lord. Jesus, I trust in You.
Reflexiones sobre la Divina Misericordia
Saint of the Day – Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor
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