The General Judgment Chapter 26 Lesson 2

Read Matthew’s account of the General Judgment (Mt 24:29-51; Mt 25:31-46). We know that we will be judged upon our thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions. In the readings above, upon what especially will we be judged? We will be judged especially on our charity.

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo Christ is in the center as judge Christ is in the center as judge Mary is pleading for our souls at Jesus’ right hand. Mary is pleading for our souls at Jesus’ right hand. Various martyrs and apostles are around Christ, each having some symbol of his life or death Various martyrs and apostles are around Christ, each having some symbol of his life or death The elect are on either side of Christ, embracing one another as they enter into the joy of heaven The elect are on either side of Christ, embracing one another as they enter into the joy of heaven Angels of the resurrection are in the middle section blowing their trumpets Angels of the resurrection are in the middle section blowing their trumpets To the left of the angels are the saved souls, to the right are the damned To the left of the angels are the saved souls, to the right are the damned Among the damned a soul in despair is being dragged to hell Among the damned a soul in despair is being dragged to hell In the middle of the lowest section, there is a cavern of flames and a group of mocking demons In the middle of the lowest section, there is a cavern of flames and a group of mocking demons To the left of the cavern are souls rising from the dead regaining their bodies To the left of the cavern are souls rising from the dead regaining their bodies To the right are sinners being taken into hell To the right are sinners being taken into hell What else do you notice in this image?

The Last Judgment At the Last Judgment, in the presence of Christ, the truth of each man’s relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal the good and evil that each man has done. The Last Judgment will reveal God’s infinite justice and glorify him. All will see that God’s love is stronger than death. At the Last Judgment, in the presence of Christ, the truth of each man’s relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgment will reveal the good and evil that each man has done. The Last Judgment will reveal God’s infinite justice and glorify him. All will see that God’s love is stronger than death.

The Last Judgment is a call to conversion. We should answer this call while God still gives us time to turn to him. We should answer this call while God still gives us time to turn to him.

“No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the hearth of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.” –1Cor 2:9 “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people and God himself will be with them: he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” –Rev 21:3-4

The Assumption of Mary At the General Judgment, our souls will be reunited with our bodies, which will be resurrected and glorified. Man is a union of body and soul so it is fitting that, ultimately, our bodies will share in the joys of heaven, or the sufferings of hell, with our souls. But there are, in fact, two bodies in heaven already. Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven with a glorified body, and we know that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken up into heaven body and soul (Pope Pius Xll, Munificentissimus Deus). As a humble, faithful, sinless lover of God, Mary is an example to us of what we are all called to be, and her Assumption is a sign of hope for us of what awaits those who live in the love of God.

“There we shall rest and see, see and love, love and praise. This is what shall be in the end without end. For what other end do we propose to ourselves than to attain to the kingdom of which there is no end?” Saint Augustine, City of God, XXll, 30

Answer the questions on the worksheet, The General Judgment. Answer the questions on the worksheet, The General Judgment. This will be due tomorrow.