When the Day of Judgment Comes

What will you see?

I was part of a Catholic leadership program recently, which took place in Washington DC. During one of the talks, the speaker mentioned something which deeply resonated with me, so much so that I decided then and there to write an article about it as soon as I got home.

I don’t remember the exact words he used, but his statement went something like this:

“There’s going to be a general judgment. Only God knows when it’ll happen, but it’s certain that it will. Christ will return in glory at the end of time to judge the living and the dead.

When that happens, He will reveal the secret disposition of our hearts and render to each person according to their works and their acceptance or refusal of grace. Everything we’ve done, said and thought will be revealed. Even the unseen consequences of those actions will be revealed: you will see not just what you did, but the effect that your actions had on others.

Think about that for a second. Picture yourself at the day of judgment, amongst all the souls of the men and women who’ve ever lived.

Will some of those souls come to you and thank you, for inspiring them to pursue holiness, for showing them the righteous path and helping them get into heaven?

Or will hundreds of souls look at you with pain and regret, silently damning you for leading them into the fires of hell?”

Your faith is not merely something private. You have to understand that what you do and who you are has an effect on what other people believe, say, and do as well.

That means that our responsibility as Christians is much greater than most of us might think. It’s not just about saving ourselves, but about understanding that if we’re not leading others towards heaven, we’re pushing them towards hell.

I find myself meditating about this often. I think we’ve become comfortable and complacent, thinking that as long as we save our own souls, we did our duty. But a life of true holiness doesn’t just save yourself, it shines light on everyone else who knows you and hopefully, with God’s grace, inspires them to open their hearts to God.

I have no idea what will happen when the day of judgment comes. Maybe I’m overestimating the impact that each of us has on other people. But even then, I will try my best to live a life of striving towards holiness, in everything I do, so that maybe, when Our Savior returns, I can be greeted by those who knew me and learn that I somehow helped them take even a few steps towards heaven.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
— Matthew 28: 18-10

God bless you and keep you,

Juan - Simple Man

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