THE LAST JUDGMENT PREVIEW.
PREVIEW OF THE LAST JUDGMENT.
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25: 31 - 46).
Our Gospel for today is a preview of the Last Judgment. St Augustine teaches us a simple formula to prepare for the Last Judgment:
"If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."
Prayer, along with fasting and almsgiving are the three pillars of the Christian life.
It is during Lent that you see the power of prayer. An ancient maxim of the Church says: Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi. Which means: The law of prayer is the law of faith and the law of living. You live as you pray. You will die and judged as you live.
St Teresa of Kolkata teaches that Prayer strengthens our Faith.
Prayer is the Activator of Power. Prayer pushes desire to action.
Does God reward those who pray, fast and give alms during Lent? Read for yourself:
"For he says:
“In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.”
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
Brethren, Lent is the Acceptable Time for favors and graces.
"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12: 2).
Apart from prayer, how do we go about acquiring graces during Lent?
Daily PRAYER AND Daily WORD OF GOD HAVE POWER TO TRANSFORM THE MIND DURING LENT.
"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Memorare to St. Joseph:
Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
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