At the election of a new Pope, the Cardinals of the Church
gather in the Sistine Chapel whose walls and ceilings are adorned with some of
the most beautiful frescos in the world—painted by the Italian Renaissance
master Michelangelo in the late 1530s.
After serious prayer, the Cardinals walk towards the altar to cast their
vote for the new Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Church of God. Above that altar is
a depiction of the Second Coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment
by God of all humanity, the scene we just heard in the Gospel, “The Last
Judgment”.
The Cardinals are reminded by that great biblical scene that
their vote must not be motivated by selfishness or ambition, for they will face
Christ as Judge on that final day, and will have to answer for the choices they
made.
Holy Mother Church presents us with this scene on this
Monday of the first full week of Lent, as we just read the Lord’s own teaching
on our judgment. And he does not simply announce the fact that we will be
judged by God, he is clear about the criteria: when I was hungry you fed me,
when I was naked you clothed me.
Lent is a time for examining our conduct, our lifestyle, and
our motivations. And the criteria for that examination must include the criteria
set by the Lord himself. How do you treat people? How do you treat the poor?
We prayed in our collect prayer this morning, “convert us, O
God our savior.” A vital dimension of the conversion the Lord wants for us is
for each of us to seek to serve God more faithfully by serving those in need.
We are to seek conversion from avarice and greed that clings
to possessions and wealth in order to share our goods more freely. Sometimes we
hesitate to give because we worry we won’t have enough for ourselves, but we
are to seek conversion from this form of anxiety and fear. We are certainly to
seek conversion from any indifference which blinds us to the real needs and
sufferings of others. We are to seek conversion from our pride which views
ourselves as more deserving of material goods than others.
And with the Gospel in mind, we are to seek conversion from
those attitudes and vices because they are detrimental to our immortal souls.
Unwillingness to give alms, to participate in the works of mercy speaks volumes
about the state of one’s soul.
So may we cultivate the generosity and concern for the poor
praised by Christ Our Lord and Judge for the glory of God and the salvation of
souls.
Confident in God’s desire to dispense mercy, let us offer
our prayers and petitions for the Church and for the world.
That all Christians may dedicate themselves this Lent to
deeper prayer and practical works of mercy, so that our witness may bring hope
and compassion to those who suffer.
For Genuine Conversion of Heart for all people: That we may
turn from the vices of greed, indifference, and pride, and instead cultivate
generosity, trust in God’s providence, and heartfelt concern for our brothers
and sisters in need.
For the Poor and Vulnerable That those who are hungry,
homeless, or struggling in any way may find compassionate assistance among the
faithful, and that they may experience the love of Christ through our concrete
acts of mercy.
That all who have died, trusting in God’s mercy, may come to
behold the face of Christ the Eternal Judge and receive the reward of eternal
life, especially N…
Merciful God, You call us to ongoing conversion and to
recognize Christ in the poor and needy. Hear our prayers, and grant that,
guided by Your Spirit, we may grow in compassion and generosity, so that on the
day of judgment, we may be found among those who have loved and served Him in
our brothers and sisters.
No comments:
Post a Comment