November 10, 2019
Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Santo Leo Agung, Paus dan Pujangga Gereja—Peringatan
“Bahwa orang mati dibangkitkan, Musa pun telah menyatakannya dalam kisah tentang semak duri, ketika ia menyebut Tuhan sebagai Allah Abraham, Allah Ishak, dan Allah Yakub. Ia bukanlah Allah orang mati, melainkan Allah orang hidup, sebab bagi-Nya semua orang hidup.” Lukas 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!
Jadi, apa arti semua ini? Artinya, Yesus akan kembali dalam segala semarak dan kemuliaan-Nya. Suatu hari Ia akan kembali ke bumi secara jasmani, penuh cahaya dan kemuliaan. Kita akan melihat-Nya, dan dunia sebagaimana yang kita kenal sekarang akan berakhir. Pada saat itu Allah akan menegakkan Kerajaan-Nya yang kekal, dan surga serta bumi akan dipersatukan menjadi satu. Akan ada “langit yang baru dan bumi yang baru” (Wahyu 21:1). Langit dan bumi yang lama akan berlalu, dan tatanan baru akan ditegakkan.
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.
Dalam Katekismus juga dinyatakan:
Ketika Ia datang pada akhir zaman untuk mengadili orang yang hidup dan yang mati, Kristus yang mulia akan menyingkapkan sikap batin yang tersembunyi dan akan membalas setiap orang menurut perbuatannya serta menurut penerimaan atau penolakannya terhadap rahmat. (#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.
Hal lain yang perlu diperhatikan ialah bahwa pada Penghakiman Terakhir, bahkan mereka yang berada di Neraka pun akan bangkit. Mengapa? Karena sebagai manusia, kita dimaksudkan untuk selamanya bersatu dengan tubuh kita. Pada hakikatnya, kita adalah tubuh dan jiwa. Jadi, orang-orang mati pun akan menerima kembali tubuh mereka. Namun sayangnya, mereka kemudian akan menderita selamanya, bukan hanya secara rohani, melainkan juga secara jasmani. Apa tepatnya yang tercakup dalam penderitaan ini, kita tidak tahu. Namun, penderitaan akibat kehilangan itu akan sungguh nyata. Kehilangan Allah, serta kehilangan karena tubuh dan jiwa tidak akan dapat mengambil bagian dalam kehidupan bersama Allah. Hal ini mungkin tampak keras dan tidak adil, tetapi kita perlu mengingatkan diri bahwa Allah itu adil secara sempurna dan penuh kasih secara sempurna. Bagaimanapun kehilangan kekal dan penderitaan kekal ini dialami, semuanya itu benar dan adil.
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.
Saint of the Day – Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor
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