The Glorious Throne

Listening to the Spirit

Breathe into me, Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen.
(Saint Augustine)

Listening to the Word

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory,and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Reflection

We have now come to the end of the Liturgical Year which marks the transition from one period to another. The wonderful page of the gospel before our eyes brings us not only to reflect on the end but also on our past and present life. The real judgment is not on the last day but it is right in front of us day after day as we contemplate the cross, the true throne where every brother and sister in need are united to Christ.

The account started from one image that has had many interpretations through the time: the “glorious throne.” If one considers this image as a human element, the judgment can take the form of moral duties. Thus, the works of mercy merely become an obligation, most of the time not done for Christ but to satisfy our own self in order to get some “merits” in the future. Furthermore, considered only as moral duties, the image of Christ would in some ways be judged without the dimension of grace; that the grace not present in today’s picture doesn’t mean it is less significant. It is common understand in the Scripture that we are saved by grace and judged by works. Our works are the evidence of either the grace of God at work in us or of our rejection of that grace.

His glorious throne is what we know well: the cross. From there, every judgment comes upon all “... when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (Jn 12:32) As every human being looks at the cross, and the gospel today brings us back to this image: “all the nations will be assembled before him” the true judgment starts and the question that arises from the heart must be: Am I able to love like Him? To love not only those with whom I identify myself but the crucified ones through history, namely: the hungry and thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and prisoners whom Jesus identifies Himself with.

In front of the cross, His glorious throne, all are gathered for judgment knowing that also from there comes the grace of salvation. We will be judged by love, His love for us and our love for others especially those He identifies Himself with... “whatever you did for one of the least br if it is still hard for us to see Christ in others, this page of the gospel calls us all to be Christ for others. The one who loved until the end. Are we Christ to others? Are we Christ to anybody? If not, Advent is at hand with the lift of a new beginning for all.