GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 25TH NOVEMBER 2016
FRIDAY OF THE 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Revelation 20:1-4, 11 – 21:2
PSALM: Psalm 84:3-6, 8
GOSPEL: Luke 21:29-33
THEME: AT THE THRONE OF THE LAMB
I once asked a little girl the question: Will unrepentant thieves, murderers, rapists and corrupt persons make it to heaven? Her answer was “no”. I asked, “why?” She responded, “the thieves would steal all the gold in heaven, the murderers would harm the innocent ones in heaven, the rapists would rape all the virgins and the corrupt would corrupt the angels.” A childlike answer but underpinning it is the truth that it takes holiness to live in heaven.
The First Reading offers us various scenes and themes in the vision of John. Of particular focus in this reflection is the description of the final judgement (cf. Rev. 20:11-15). The scene begins with the statement, “Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it” (Rev 20:11). This is a reference to the judgement seat of Christ (cf. 2Cor. 5:10).
The text goes ahead and states, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books” (Rev 20:12). It does not say they were judged “…according to their faith”, rather “…according to their deeds.” Faith, if it does not translate into good deeds, is of no relevance at the judgement seat of the Lord.
We often pride ourselves of our faith – I belong to the Catholic faith; I am a Methodist; I am a Presbyterian; I am an Anglican etc. Well, in heaven, there is no VIP treatment for any denomination. The same yardstick would be used to assess all of us. If your faith as a Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican or Pentecostal is not showing forth in good deeds, you need to be concerned. If your faith is not being translated into love, honesty, truthfulness, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control etc, you may need to re-examine your life before you arrive at the judgment seat of the Lord.
Time is not on our side. Now is the day of salvation. Heaven beckons us and we need to put on the garments of holiness to share in the wedding feast of the lamb.
Prayer: May your grace, Lord Jesus, cause a change in my life and may this show forth in holy living. Amen.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).