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Judgment

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Judgment

“It is not right for me to judge anyone,” she peevishly exclaimed. “How do I know what is in his heart?” she countered again to her friend, who had critically called a particular clergyman’s behavior as evil.  Her friend threw a verbal dart back at her, saying “If one does not render judgment about an individual’s behavior, then you are indicating that there is no difference between an Adolph Hitler and a St. Francis. Without rendering a judgment on an individual’s behavior, there is no distinction between good and evil, and then society will crash into chaos.” Her friend replied, “But who am I to judge?” The answer to her question followed quickly, “You are a thinking rational being endowed by God with a conscience and the natural law, you have an obligation to make choices, accepting or rejecting certain human behaviors. Remember that God will judge you based on the choices you make ….or fail to make.” The two friends continued to counter each other’s rational. In the end they agreed that judgments about human behaviors must be made, if a just and lasting society could exist and succeed.  They agreed to differ on who should do the judging.

No matter how one views the judging of other individuals’ actions, there one certain judgment that every individual will face. It is one’s final judgment…..it is God’s judgment upon an individual at his/her death. This judgment cannot be avoided; no excuses or evasions will be considered. Each individual will experience God’s judgment; God’s justice will be immediate, final, and permanent. No one will be exempt from facing God’s judgment. While God’s mercy is so great as to be unfathomable to humans, the time to seek God’s mercy is during one’s life and ends with his death; after death all that remains is His judgment.  “Because now is the time for mercy, whereas the time to come will be the time for justice only: wherefore the present time is ours, but the future time will be God’s only.” (St. Thomas Aquinas as quoted by Hardon, Fr. John (2011-05-27). The Treasury of Catholic Wisdom (p. 283). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.) After judgment, God will determine each person’s destination; heaven or hell are the only two destinations, although for those destined for heaven a period of purification may be required.

The Bible phrase,“He will come to judge the living and the dead”, indicates to man that his judge will be Jesus Christ. St, John notes that “He hath given him power to make judgment because he is the Son of Man.” (John5, 27) Jesus will be the judge and each person’s conscience will be the witness before Jesus.. It is the conscience which will indict or justify the individual. God’s judgment for the guilty will not be gentle; hell is not a gentle state….hell is hell from which there is no escape.

During his lifetime, can an individual prevent his sins from condemning him at the time of judgment?  One remedy for sin is good deeds.  In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul advises the Romans that good deeds can help make them friends of Jesus. “Do that which is good; and thou shall have praise from the same.” Secondly, the confession and repentance of the evil one has done is a remedy for evil. Additionally, through almsgiving one can build on the virtue of charity (love) for “charity covereth a multitude of sins.”

However, we should never forget for one moment that judgment will be rendered on all of us by Jesus. We should prepare for it….no we must be prepared and that preparation begins NOW.

To Hell and Back

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To Hell and Back

Returning to his home base from combat, covered in sweat, dirt, and blood, the weary soldier dropped to the ground in relief; he had been spared from the carnage of the day’s fighting with the fanatical enemy. When asked about the battle, his only comment was that his leader, the captain, was a significant reason for his survival. He simply stated, “I will follow her to hell and back.” Other soldiers echoed his thoughts by talking about her courage, leadership, and concern for the foot soldiers’ welfare. Yes, they would follow her ‘to hell and back.”

Jesus died and “He descended into Hell, the Third Day He Rose again from the Dead.” The Apostles Creed is clear that Jesus did not proceed directly into His father’s embrace after his Crucifixion, but rather descended into Hell for three days. It is only after the period of three days that Jesus rose from the dead again and ascended to His Father. What was the purpose of his descent into hell? Why he was there and what did he accomplish? There are several reasons for Jesus’ presence in Hell, a few are listed below.

  • Jesus suffered brutal physical punishments as redemption for man’s sins. However, the physical punishments were not sufficient to cover the part that the souls of men played in man’s sinfulness. As a result of Original sin, all of men’s souls also suffered from the loss of the beatific vision, thus Jesus participated in that suffering in order to complete the restitution for all aspects of sin. The difference between those souls who were in hell and Jesus was that Jesus was free to leave, whereas all others were constrained until freed by Him.
  • Since Adam and Eve all souls, including those who lived worthy lives and were free from mortal sin, were suffering in hell. Jesus entered hell to free those who had died without mortal sins on their souls. From Adam and Abraham to the death of Jesus, no souls had been seen the beatific vision. Now that Jesus had redeemed mankind from the effects of Original Sin, Jesus would release those charitable souls to their reward in heaven. For those who trust in God, Jesus led them out of hell to their eternal reward. (However, St. Thomas Aquinas clearly states in his comments on the Apostles Creed that those who died with mortal sins on their souls will never be released from hell. “We ought to conceive fear and cast away presumption. Because although Christ suffered for sinners and descended into hell, yet he did not deliver all, but only those who were free from mortal sin, as we have said; whereas he left those who had died in mortal sin. Consequently, none who goes down thither in a state of mortal sin may hope for pardon but  he will remain in hell as long as the holy Fathers in paradise, namely for all eternity: These shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just into life everlasting.”
  • By descending into Hell, Jesus demonstrates his total dominance of Satan. He has not only conquered Satan on earth but also in Satan’s domain – hell.

Similar to the soldiers who would follow their trustworthy leader to “hell and back”, those who trust and obey God as their leader will follow Him, not to hell, but rather to heaven.

Suggested Reading

St. Thomas Aquinas’ comments on mortal sin and everlasting hell can be accessed on the Internet at http://dhspriory.org/thomas/Creed.htm.  (Article Five in the notes on the Apostles Creed.)