The General JudgmentThe General Judgment

Chapter 26Chapter 26

Lesson 2Lesson 2

Read Matthew’s account of the Read Matthew’s account of the General Judgment (Mt 24:29-51; Mt General Judgment (Mt 24:29-51; Mt

25:31-46).25:31-46).We know that we will be judged upon We know that we will be judged upon

our thoughts, words, deeds, and our thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions. In the readings above, omissions. In the readings above, upon what especially will we be upon what especially will we be judged?judged?

We will be judged especially on our We will be judged especially on our charity.charity.

The Last Judgment by The Last Judgment by MichelangeloMichelangelo

Christ is in the center as judgeChrist 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 Various martyrs and apostles are around Christ, each having some

symbol of his life or deathsymbol of his life or death The elect are on either side of Christ, embracing one another as The elect are on either side of Christ, embracing one another as

they enter into the joy of heaventhey enter into the joy of heaven Angels of the resurrection are in the middle section blowing their Angels of the resurrection are in the middle section blowing their

trumpetstrumpets To the left of the angels are the saved souls, to the right are the To the left of the angels are the saved souls, to the right are the

damneddamned Among the damned a soul in despair is being dragged to hellAmong 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 In the middle of the lowest section, there is a cavern of flames and

a group of mocking demonsa group of mocking demons To the left of the cavern are souls rising from the dead regaining To the left of the cavern are souls rising from the dead regaining

their bodiestheir bodies To the right are sinners being taken into hellTo the right are sinners being taken into hellWhat else do you notice in this image?What else do you notice in this image?

The Last JudgmentThe Last Judgment

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

The Last Judgment is a call to The Last Judgment is a call to conversion.conversion.

We should answer this call while We should answer this call while God still gives us time to turn to him.God still gives us time to turn to him.

““No eye has seen, nor ear heard, No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the hearth of man conceived, nor the hearth of man conceived, what God has prepared for those what God has prepared for those

who love him.” –1Cor 2:9who love him.” –1Cor 2:9““Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. Behold, the dwelling of God is with men.

He will dwell with them, and they shall be He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people and God himself will be with his people and God himself will be with them: he will wipe away every tear from them: he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” –Rev 21:3-4things have passed away.” –Rev 21:3-4

The Assumption of MaryThe Assumption of Mary

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

““There we shall rest and see, see There we shall rest and see, see and love, love and praise. This is and love, love and praise. This is what shall be in the end without what shall be in the end without end. For what other end do we end. For what other end do we

propose to ourselves than to propose to ourselves than to attain to the kingdom of which attain to the kingdom of which

there is no end?” there is no end?” Saint Augustine, City of God, Saint Augustine, City of God,

XXll, 30XXll, 30

Answer the questions on the Answer the questions on the worksheet, The General Judgment.worksheet, The General Judgment.

This will be due tomorrow.This will be due tomorrow.