Homily on the Sunday of the Last Judgment. (Meatfare)
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world." Mt 25:34
In todays gospel proclamation, we have been given a glimpse of what will happen on the Parousia or Judgment day as many know it. The just will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and the unjust will fall into everlasting torment (hell).
Now the Church has always taught us to never fear or dwell upon this inevitable day which is to come. However, sometimes we as broken and fragile humanity cannot help ourselves but to fear this future event for no one truly knows their destiny.
Thus, fear does not come from God for He loves humanity in such a deep and profound way it is incompressible! This type of fear only comes from one place; evil personified and it's fallen powers.
‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Mt 25:41
Hence, one must not get mixed up with the fear of God and fear that stems from evil, for these are two different things. Obviously, a demonic fear is the feeling terror or fright .
Therefore, when we hear the expression the fear of God or one must fear God, it's not to say one must be scared of Him but rather be in awe of His might and omnipotence/greatness! Thus, this fear is the act of acknowledging, appreciating, accepting, worshiping and falling in love with God our loving Father Almighty!
Having stated thus, many Orthodox, Heterodox and other Christian sects have sadly fallen into a sick and disturbed obsession of the final judgment. We have all seen it, whether it be in real life or in movies - the homeless guy holding up a cardboard sign that reads - "The end is near repent; whilst shouting and screaming at people that are walking by!
Thus, if we as Christians truly believe that Jesus has washed away the stain of sin with His All-Holy and precious blood via putting our death to death through His voluntary death, then why should anyone fear the last day?
Furthermore, our Lord has given us all the tools we need to enter into full communion with Him - the Holy and Sacred Mysteries: Holy communion, absolution (confession) Holy unction and so on. Most importantly He had given us His Pure Mother Mariam, who is our greatest advocate, who unceasingly intercedes for us. In addition, we have the Holy Martyrs who shed their blood in order that Holy Mother Church continue throughout history; further all our Holy Fathers and Mothers of the past and present.
If we truly live in Him through Holy Mother Church and continue to get up when we fall into sin, one need not fear a thing! God only requires us to never give up on ourselves the same way He has never given up on humanity!
Thus, one may think this is easier said then done, and I absolutely understand and sympathies because I also from time to time fall into that trap of self anger and despair. However, again and again we must always remind ourselves to dust off the dust from our feet as it where and press on.
For example, many times I have had a busy week at work and have not had the energy to stand in prayer. Later on the evil one would infiltrate my mind and I would begin to say to myself things such as - "look at yourself! You are a supposed priest and you cannot even spare 2 minutes of your time to worship God."
Hence, after such thoughts would infiltrate my mind I would begin to be hard on myself and begin to feel sentiments of unworthiness, sinfulness, hopelessness and so on. However, after some time I slap myself out of this despair and press on as it were.
It is challenging, however with the right support network such as the Church and Fathers of the Church, in conjunction with the will to want to move on, mountains will surly move from one place to another in the name which is above all other names Jesus Christ!
The last thing I would like to touch base on is something that our Lord reminds us time and time again within Holy Scripture - to love and show mercy on to others via reaching out and giving of our time.
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mt 25:40
It is not enough to be a prayerful person who attends the services, prays everyday, knows the ins and outs of Church law and doctrine. If there is no charity it is all for nothing!
The Apostle James step-brother of the Lord wrote - Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17
Thus, a requirement for salvation is to love those who no one loves! To cherish those who have been forgotten! To give empathy to those who have been wrongly persecuted! And to embrace those who have been segregated from society because they don't fit into the status quo!
Therefore, I pray that we all have a productive Lent were we begin to sow grain which will produce an abundant harvest on the Holiest day of our Church calendar - Holy Pascha.
Through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen
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