November 10, 2019
Sunday Wey Be Di Thirty-Second for Ordinary Time, Year C
Saint Leo di Great, Pope and Doctor of di Church—Memorial
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“Even Moses show say di dead go rise, for di passage about di bush, when e call ‘Lord,’ di God of Abraham, di God of Isaac, and di God of Jacob; and E no be God of di dead, but of people wey dey alive, because for Him, all of dem dey alive.” Luke 20:37-38
As we dey near di end of dis Church year, our readings dey begin focus more clearly on di last things wey go happen. Dis passage na from Di Katolik Faith Wey I Get!, Chapter 5, about how di dead go rise:
Di third and final coming na when Jesus go return to dis Earth with splendour and glory. Na dat time “di world as we know am go end.” Na di time wey dem go establish His Kingdom wey go remain forever. Plenty things dey to talk about dis moment for history, and to reflect on am really dey draw person mind well-well.
Before you continue to read, open di Katekism of di Katolik Church and read paragraphs #671-677.
Ah! Dis one really good! As person dey read am, e almost be like mystery novel about science and di future wey dey draw person mind well-well. Di only difference na say all of am na true, all of am full of glory, and all of am pass any mystery wey we go ever fit understand until e really happen. And e go happen for one definite moment for di time wey dey come!
So wetin all dis one mean? E mean say Jesus go return with all His splendour and glory. One day, E go return to dis Earth with His body, shining and full of glory. We go see Him, and di world as we know am now go end. For dat moment, God go establish His Kingdom wey go remain forever, and Heaven and Earth go join as one. E go be “new Heaven and new Earth” (Revelation 21:1). Di former Heaven and Earth go pass away, and dem go establish di new order.
But no be only dat! For dat moment, all di dead go rise. Yes, everybody wey don ever die go rise. Dis one mean say everybody wey dem don “lay to rest” for cemetery or any other place go come back to life, dem go receive new body wey don get glory, and dat body go join di person soul again.
Di Katekism still talk say:
When E come for di end of time to judge di living and di dead, Christ wey dey for glory go reveal di hidden condition of people heart, and E go give each person wetin fit di things wey di person do and whether di person accept or reject grace. (#682)
Dis thought dey draw person mind well-well, and e still dey make person fear small! E mean say everything wey hide go come out for light. Dis one fit good or bad, depending on wetin hide. Dis thought suppose fill us with small holy fear, and e suppose still fill us with holy joy. Dis holy fear na really gift from God to help us remove any secret and hidden sin wey we get now or wey we don struggle with before. Since all of am go truly come out for light one day, e better make we deal with am now so dat our sin no go remain again. If we do so, even our sin go turn to virtue and grace. Then, for di end of time, na dat grace and virtue go show clearly. As our virtue go show like dis, e go bring holy joy, no be only for us, but also for other people wey go see am.
So, dem go judge us based on wetin dey inside our conscience. E no go be just wetin dey outside again. We no go fit put on good face and pretend say we be person wey we no be. Di whole truth go come out, and e go show clearly for everybody to see, according to God plan.
Another thing to note na say for di Final Judgment, even people wey dey Hell go rise. Why? Because as human beings, God mean make we remain joined to our bodies forever. Wetin we really be na body and soul. So even di dead go receive their bodies back. But sadly, dem go then suffer forever, no be only for spirit, but also for body. We no know wetin exactly dis one go involve. But e go be real pain of loss. Loss of God, and loss because di body and soul no go fit share for life with God. Dis one fit look harsh and unfair, but we suppose remind ourselves say God dey perfectly just and His love dey perfect, and no matter how dis everlasting loss and everlasting suffering go be, e right and just.
How this new life go be for those wey go share for the Resurrection to new life? Na life with God go be, for body and spirit, and na life wey we go live together with one another. The Book of Revelation use symbols describe this new life as one city where God dey for throne for the centre of the city. Light dey shine from Him, so sun or moon no go dey necessary. The streets na gold. Precious stones full the gates. And plenty more things dey. We no suppose take this language of symbols word for word; instead, make we see am as pictures wey help us understand the beauty, splendour and greatness of the life wey dey wait for us. Na the new heavens and new earth be that. I no fit wait!
Lord, make I always dey ready to welcome You when You come. I thank You for Your perfect promise to raise everybody from the dead and bring new life. Dear Lord, use me gather plenty people into this glorious Kingdom wey dey come. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Saint for Today – Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor
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