The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (25:31-46)

I want to share a few words from one of our modern saints, St. Nektarios of Aegina. He said,

“After the end of the General Judgment, the Righteous Judge (God) will declare the decision both to the righteous and to the sinners. To the righteous He will say: ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;’ while to the sinners He will say: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” And these will go away to eternal hades, while the righteous will go to eternal life. This retribution after the General Judgment will be complete, final, and definitive. It will be complete, because it is not the soul alone, as the Partial Judgment of man after death, but the soul together with the body, that will receive what is deserved. It will be final, because it will be enduring and not temporary like that at Partial Judgment. And it will be definitive, because both for the righteous and for the sinners it will be unalterable and eternal.” — St. Nektarios

According to our Lord in today’s gospel, this is coming for each of us. This will happen. Our Lord is not guessing or trying to scare us, He is telling us the truth out of His immense love for us. And according to this gospel passage the criteria for the judgment will be our love or lack of love for everyone even those who are the most difficult to love. Love even for those who are easy to ignore. According to Our Lord Jesus, God will accept and welcome those who open their hearts and welcome others into their lives.

This is not an easy task. To take care of the poor or to visit the sick or the prisoners or to help those in need is an effort. It requires a sacrifice of time and effort. But these are the things that make us like God, our Father. While none of this is easy, it is blessed by God! What is better, to have an easy life and lack God’s blessing or to have a difficult path that is infinitely blessed by the Lord? No doubt, the second option is better. Well, my brothers and sisters, that option is available to you.

This path is still open to you today. Take hold of this calling and this invitation to serve and to care for others who have no power to care for themselves. If we accept this and attempt to live this way, it will change us. We will be transformed by acts of love. Start with small acts of sacrifice for your own family and friends. This will help train you and prepare you for more and more. We become saints when our lives are a living sacrifice and this is your potential in Christ. And if we have not lived for others until now, if we have lived for ourselves and our own pleasures, let us consider turning back, repenting and confessing. Now is the time my friends, because God is waiting for us.

I will leave you with a short excerpt from the Canon of St. Andrew, which we will begin reading in about one week…“The end is drawing near, my soul, is drawing near! But you neither care nor prepare. The time is growing short. Rise! The Judge is near at the very doors. Like a dream, like a flower, the time of this life passes. Why do we bustle about in vain? [Matthew 24:33; Psalm 38:7]

Come to your senses, my soul! Consider the deeds you have done, and bring them before your eyes, and pour out the drops of your tears. Boldly tell your thoughts and deeds to Christ, and be acquitted.”

+ The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, Mon 4.2-3

May we boldly give mercy that we may receive it from our King and Judge. AMEN.

Source: Sermons