November 10, 2019
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Saint Léon le Grand, pape et docteur de l’Église — Mémoire
« Que les morts ressuscitent, Moïse lui-même le fait comprendre dans le récit du buisson ardent, quand il appelle le Seigneur le Dieu d’Abraham, le Dieu d’Isaac, le Dieu de Jacob. Il n’est pas le Dieu des morts, mais des vivants. Tous, en effet, vivent pour lui. » Luc 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!
Que signifie donc tout cela ? Cela signifie que Jésus reviendra dans toute sa splendeur et toute sa gloire. Un jour, il reviendra corporellement sur terre, rayonnant et glorieux. Nous le verrons, et le monde tel que nous le connaissons aujourd’hui prendra fin. À cet instant, Dieu établira son Royaume pour toujours, et le ciel et la terre seront unis pour ne faire qu’un. Ce sera « un ciel nouveau et une terre nouvelle » (Apocalypse 21, 1). Le premier ciel et la première terre disparaîtront, et l’ordre nouveau sera établi.
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.
Le Catéchisme affirme également :
En venant à la fin des temps juger les vivants et les morts, le Christ glorieux révélera la disposition secrète des cœurs et rendra à chaque homme selon ses œuvres et selon son accueil ou son refus de la grâce. (#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.
Il faut aussi noter qu’au Jugement dernier, même ceux qui sont en enfer ressusciteront. Pourquoi ? Parce qu’en tant qu’êtres humains, nous sommes destinés à être éternellement unis à notre corps. Nous sommes, par essence, corps et âme. Ainsi, même les morts retrouveront leur corps. Mais, hélas, ils souffriront alors éternellement, non seulement spirituellement, mais aussi physiquement. Ce que cela implique concrètement, nous ne le savons pas. Mais ce sera une véritable peine de privation : la privation de Dieu, et l’impossibilité pour le corps et l’âme de participer à la vie avec Dieu. Cela peut sembler dur et injuste, mais nous devons nous rappeler que Dieu est parfaitement juste et parfaitement aimant et que, quelle que soit la manière dont cette privation éternelle et cette souffrance éternelle seront vécues, cela est juste et équitable.
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.
Autres méditations sur l’Évangile
Méditations sur la Miséricorde divine
Saint of the Day – Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor
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