Posted on 12/11/2013 5:08:25 AM PST by markomalley
Do not be afraid of the final judgment of God, when the good will be separated from the bad, because Jesus will always be at our side, because we can rely on the intercession and the benevolence of the saints and because God " did not send his Son to condemn , but to save " and ""he who believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned," and in this sense "the judgment has already begun".
Pope Francis dedicated his general audience to the "Last Judgment ", the last catechesis , he said, on the Creed. 40 thousand people were in St Peter's Square , where the Christmas tree has already been erected. As is tradition the Pope toured around the square in his open topped jeep for ore than 40 minutes greeting, blessing , hugging and kissing dozens of children and "exchanging" his skullcap for ones offered by some of the faithful .
The general audience was also an opportunity for the Pope to renew his call for the campaign of Caritas Internationalis "One family, food for all" to which he dedicated a recent video message . Francis returned to evoke "the scandal for the millions of people who suffer from hunger ," inviting " all individuals, communities, families and institutions " to act , joining " this wave of solidarity."
"I believe in eternal life" was the passage from the Creed chosen by the Pope, focusing on the final judgment. "But - he immediately said - do not be afraid ." "When we think of the return of Christ and his final judgment, which will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during their earthly life , we perceive that we are faced with a mystery that hangs over us that we can not even imagine. A mystery that almost instinctively arouses in us a sense of awe, and perhaps even trepidation. However, if we think carefully about this fact, it can only swell the heart of a Christian and be a great reason of comfort and confidence. "
Firstly, because the Christian revelation ends, in the Apocalypse, with " the embrace of Jesus, who is the fullness of life , the fullness of love. So we embrace Jesus! If we think of the judgment in this perspective , all fear and doubt vanishes and leaves a deep joy and expectation It will be the time when we will be judged finally ready to be clothed with the glory of Christ, like a wedding garment, and be conducted to the banquet , an image of full and definitive communion with God " .
"A second reason for confidence is offered by the finding that, at the time of judgment, we will not be left alone. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus preannounce that those followed him will join him in glory to judge everyone with him". " That's nice to know that at the time, not only can we count on Christ, our Paraclete, our Advocate with the Father, but we also can count on the goodwill and the intercession of so many of our brothers and sisters who have preceded us in the journey of faith , who have offered their lives for us and who continue to love us unconditionally! The saints already live in the sight of God , in the splendor of his glory praying for us who still live on earth. What great consolation this certainty brings to our hearts! The Church really is a mother and as a mother , seeks the good of her children , especially those who are most distant and distressed, until it finds its fulfillment in the glorious body of Christ with all of her members . "
"Another suggestion is offered to us in the Gospel of John , which states explicitly that" God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world , but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned but whoever does not believe is already condemned, because he hath not believed in the Only Son of God "( Jn 3:17-18 ) . This means that the 'final' judgment has already begun, it begins right now, in the course of our earthly existence. Such judgment is pronounced in every moment of life, as reflected in our acceptance in faith of salvation present and active in Christ, or of our unbelief , with the consequent closing in on ourselves".
"But if we close ourselves - ourselves - to the love of Jesus , we condemn ourselves ! We condemn ourselves ! Salvation is opening ourselves to Jesus and He will save us . If we are sinners - all, we all are , all of us ! - we ask for forgiveness and go with the desire to be good, the Lord forgives us. But for this we must open ourselves open to the love of Jesus, which is stronger than all the other things . The love of Jesus is great ! The love of Jesus is merciful, the love of Jesus forgives ! But you have to open up and opening up to it means to repent, lament the things that we have done that are not good".
"The Lord Jesus has given and continues to give Himself to us, to fill us full of mercy. So in a certain sense we can become our own judges, condemning ourselves and excluding ourselves from communion with God and with others. Therefore, we must never tire of being vigilant over our thoughts and behavior, to obtain even now, a foretaste of the warmth and the beauty of the face of God and that will be beautiful! Of the God who we will contemplate eternal life in all His fullness". Come! Lets move forward, thinking of this judgment that begins now . It has already started ... Lets move forward, with hearts open to Jesus , to His salvation . Let's move forward, without fear because the love of Jesus is greater and if we ask forgiveness of our sins , He forgives us ! That is how Jesus is! Let us move forward with this certainty, that bring us to the glory of heaven".
Pope Francis concluded by pointing out that tomorrow is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe , Patroness of all America . " For this occasion - he said - I want to greet all the brothers and sisters on the continent".
" The appearance of the image of the Virgin in his tilma (cloak ) of Juan Diego was a prophetic sign of an embrace , the embrace of Mary to all the inhabitants of the vast American lands , the ones that were already there and those to come. This embrace of Mary showed the path that has always characterized the whole of America , a land where different people can live together , a land able to respect human life in all its stages, from birth to old age, able to accommodate migrants as well as the poor and marginalized of all times . A generous land".
AMEN. Come Lord Jesus!
unless you have chosen the side of satan, then you are going to burn
Christ is on your side IF you accept Him and follow his ways.
The so called ministers of Christ who are at the forefront of removing any symbol of Him in public, and are not spreading the Good News of Christ, will find that GOD will say I DO NOT KNOW YOU, and will consign them to that fire pit with all the other non believers. Hope they enjoy their eternity in Hades, they deserve it.
Merry CHRISTmas one and all.
GENERAL AUDIENCE: WE WILL NOT BE ALONE AT THE FINAL JUDGEMENT
The Pope dedicated his final catechesis on the Creed to its last article: “I believe in life everlasting”, focusing in particular on the final judgement.
“When we think of Christ's return and of His final judgement, which will show, up to the very last consequences, the good that each person will have done or omitted to do during his or her earthly life, we realise that we find ourselves before a mystery that overwhelms us, that we cannot even imagine. A mystery that almost instinctively arouses in us a sense of fear, and perhaps even trepidation. However, if we reflect closely on this fact, it cannot but enlarge the heart of a Christian, and constitutes a great reason for consolation and trust”.
Pope Francis explained that “in this respect, the witness of the first Christian communities is very interesting, since their celebrations and prayers were generally accompanied by the exclamation 'Maranatha', an acclamation made up of two Aramaic words which may be understood either as an entreaty: 'Come, Lord!', or as a certainty nurtured by faith: 'Yes, the Lord is coming, the Lord is near'. It is the exclamation in which all of Christian revelation culminates, at the end of the marvellous contemplation offered in the Apocalypse of St. John … in which the Church, bride in the name of all humanity, turns to Christ, her spouse, in the hope of receiving His embrace, full of life and love. If we think of the judgement in this way, all fear and hesitation makes way for expectation and profound joy. It will be the moment in which we will be judged as finally ready to be clothed in the glory of Christ”.
A second reason for trust is offered to us by “the realisation that, at the moment of judgement, we are not left alone. … How good it is to know that, in that situation, we can count on Christ, our advocate before the father, and upon the intercession and benevolence of many of our brothers and sisters who have preceded us on the path of faith ... and who continue to to love us in an indescribable way! The saints already live in the presence of God, in the splendour of His glory, praying for us, for those who still live on earth”.
A third element is offered to us by the Gospel of St. John, when he states that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”. “This means, then, that the judgement is already in process, throughout our existence. This judgement is pronounced in every instant in our lives, as reflected in our acceptance in faith of salvation, present and through the work of Christ, or in our incredulity and our consequent self-centredness. Salvation means opening oneself to Jesus. If we are sinners, the Lord forgives us, but we must open ourselves to Jesus' love, which is greater than all things; and opening up means repenting”.
“The Lord Jesus gave Himself, and continues to give Himself for us”, concluded the Holy Father, “to fill us with the grace and the mercy of the Father. We can become in a certain sense our own judges, condemning ourselves to exclusion from communion with God and with our brethren. … therefore, let us never tire of keeping watch over our thoughts and attitudes, so that we might have right now a foretaste of the warmth and splendour of the face of God, which in eternal life we will contemplate in all its fullness”.
Believe in GOD!
Why doesn't Pope Francis preach this to the Jews and Muslims?
Hope they enjoy their eternity in Hades, they deserve it.Ha! Interesting back-to-back sentiments.
Merry CHRISTmas one and all.
This is a terrible false hope... All men need to fear Christ.. just believing he is God will save no one.. just believing in the intercession of the dead will save no one.. Francis is leading a parade into hell
Evil belongs in Hades. God said the spread the Good News, not ERADICATE it from the public. They failed to follow Christ’ teachings, and God’s orders.
And as many FR members are Christians is the reason for wishing every on a Merry CHRISTmas.
Once again, why does Pope Francis keep this "Gospel" hidden from the Jews, Muslims and atheists with whom he happily dialogues with?
Nor a false hope. Christ tells us at the Ascension: “I will be with you always.”
And I know you believe the words of Christ.
Rather, as a gentle correction, LOVE Christ, WHO is BOTH God and man.
AMEN.
The Commissioning of the Disciples.*
16f The eleven* disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. 17* When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18* g Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19h Go, therefore,* and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, 20i teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
::crickets::
Good hermeneutics needed here Sal.. THIS was not a GENERAL promise , but a promise to the disciples.. Christ will be there for sure..but as JUDGE not Savior
And what was that Sal?
Jhn 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Not an intellectual belief.. but a belief in the finished work of the cross
I’ve always put forth that while we are alive Christ is perfect mercy. At the moment of our death, Christ becomes perfect justice.
Are you saying that at the Ascension Christ is telling only the disciples and apostles there that he will be with them.
I think it is a promise to all of us.
Is it in one of Paul’s letters or in a Gospel where Christ says not to worry about what to say, for he would supply the words — in a way, Christ will be with them?
**but a belief in the finished work of the cross **
Which the apostles and disciples (72) were sent out by Christ to spread the Gospel.
After Christ’s Ascension, it was still their mission, in my opinion
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