Jesus was informed of the unjust and tragic slaughter of His Galilean folks at the hands of Pilate: “Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices” (Lk. 13:1-19). You would expect Jesus to be irked by such wickedness on Pilate’s part, but He did not lament or comment on this tragedy. He also didn’t blame to anyone for it, to Pilate or to His countrymen. On the contrary, He used this moment to emphasize the most important issue—the issue of personal salvation.
But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did.
Rather than focus on the unjust murder of these people, He invites His listeners to focus on what happens to their immortal souls after death.
For us to pay due attention to the salvation of our souls amidst all the concerns of our daily lives, we must keep in our minds and hearts what is traditionally called the Four Last Things, i.e. Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell. These are the most certain and unavoidable things that we tend to ignore today but which hold the key to our fidelity, to our commitment as disciples of Jesus Christ here on earth.
At the moment of death, our earthly life ceases and our immortal soul leaves the body. From this moment on, there is no more time for repentance from sins or reconciliation with God and others. We can no longer pray, perform good works, receive the sacraments, grow in holiness and union with God, or merit anything supernatural.
At the moment of our particular judgment (which happens right after death), we will stand before God, one-on-one, and give a complete account of all the gifts and blessings that we have received from Him and how we have made use of them in our lives. We will give account for every single second of our lives and every grace we have received from God. We will account for God’s gifts of truth and love poured into our hearts and the relationships that we have had with others. We will account for our every thought, word, and deed. There will be no room for excuses or blaming others; “I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter” (Mt. 12:36).
Based on the outcome of this judgment, we will either enter into the perfect life of complete happiness with God and the saints in heaven or we will enter into the eternal punishment and separation from God in hell. There is no other ultimate destiny for our souls.
Where will we spend eternity after death—heaven or hell?
This is the most important question for the Church and all her members. However, it appears that other issues seem to be prioritized in our Church today. There seems to be more emphasis on mutual listening, synodality, inclusivity, tolerance, climate change, and immigration. We seem to have ignored the fact that the Church is first and foremost the universal sacrament of salvation. This means that, while experiencing the fruits of salvation won by Jesus Christ, the Church labors for the salvation of all humanity through her prayers, witnessing, evangelizing, and suffering.
The infamous 2023 Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans is a good example of how warped, secular ideologies have eclipsed the saving mission of the Church. This controversial declaration calls for the blessing of people in “same-sex” unions without a strong call to conversion and repentance for the sake of salvation. Talk about an utter disregard for the Four Last Things on the part of the Church.
On a personal level, many today tend to give emphasis to feeling good and being accepted in society. Winning political victories, attaining financial success, unhindered sensuality, and being famous seem to be the most important things for the many, even within the Church. Even those who are serious about eternity give up because of their sins and sufferings. We are no longer “working out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12) because we have ignored the dire warning of our Lord Jesus Christ: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mk. 8:36).
We must not be so naïve as to ignore the Four Last Things—as if they will suddenly go away if we do not think about them. Whether we think of death or not, it will still come our way, accompanied by the other three realities. Every day, every choice brings us closer to them.
Yet we should not be afraid of them either. Don’t be afraid to keep these Last Things in your mind and heart, allowing them to influence your choices. God told Moses that He saw the suffering of His people in their bondage in Egypt: “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore, I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians” (Ex. 3:8). God desires the salvation of His people more than anything else.
God fulfilled His promise to come down and save His people in the Incarnation of the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself tasted death for us on the cross so that we too can face death and judgment with a good conscience and trust in God as our loving Father. In and through Jesus Christ, we are destined for eternal life in heaven—and not for hell, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with Him” (1 Thes. 3:9-10).
Even in heavenly glory, our salvation continues to matter most for Him. He is the gardener in Luke 13:6-9, and we are the fig tree that failed to bear fruit and who faced imminent death. He pleads for us and obtains for us both time and a season of grace. He labors for us, “cultivating” and “fertilizing” our souls with His grace so that we can bear fruit worthy of eternal life with Him.
Let us value our personal salvation above all things too, so that we pray, sacrifice, and labor for it without ceasing. When we face death, let it be with trust in God and a good conscience, so that we may bear our personal judgment well, avoid hell, and enter heavenly glory with God forever and ever.
Glory to Jesus!!! Honor to Mary!!!
Image from Wikimedia Commons
