A Living Text

In Advent, we reflect on the first coming of Jesus and look forward to ‘the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead…’ It is worth reflecting on what God has told us about that day. First, Daniel says:

thrones were placed and the Ancient of days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

Jesus said, ‘I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.’

Paul said, ‘each of us will give an account of himself to God.’ He also said, ‘For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

John saw this future judgment and writes of it:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.’

The Catholic Catechism says this, ‘In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man’s relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life.

The message of the Last Judgment calls men to conversion while God is still giving them “the acceptable time,…the day of salvation.” It inspires a holy fear of God…’

Anglican poet George Herbert wrote:

ALmighty Judge, how shall poore wretches brook
                                  Thy dreadfull look,
Able a heart of iron to appall,
                                  When thou shalt call
          For ev’ry mans peculiar book?
What others mean to do, I know not well,
                                  Yet I heare tell,
That some will turn thee to some leaves therein
                                  So void of sinne,
          That they in merit shall excell.
But I resolve, when thou shalt call for mine,
                                  That to decline,
And thrust a Testament into thy hand:
                                  Let that be scann’d.
          There thou shalt finde my faults are thine.