Sunday, November 14, 2021 - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
November15,2021
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
As we near the end of the Church year the sacred Scriptures (vide Mark 13) selected for Mass turn our hearts and minds to the Four Last Things: Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell. This is done so that we can focus on what matters most in living out our lives. At the end of the world, no one knows exactly when, the Lord will return in all His glory and pass judgement on every person who has ever lived on this earth. Our raised-up bodies will be reunited with our souls for what waits in eternity. Purgatory will no longer be necessary. At the Final Judgement God will bring into heaven those who have died in sanctifying grace; and He will condemn to hell all those who have died in unrepentant mortal sin. The Sacred Scriptures reveal this reality in many ways, especially in the solemn doctrine of our Divine Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is called the General Judgement.
There is also a Particular Judgement as we leave this world one by one before its termination. A judgement is made for each soul that results in heaven or hell, or if necessary, purgatory. Our souls are clearly separated from our bodies, awaiting the Lord’s return at the end of the world, when that will be reunited with our bodies, the form of, unto life eternal or eternal damnation.
These are sobering thoughts even for the most pious. That is why this scenario only makes sense if we consider the mercy and love of God. “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16).” Jesus died on the Cross to make possible our liberation from sin and He rose again the third day to make possible our eternal resurrection in Him. Jesus loves us as His brothers and sisters. We are indeed adopted children of a loving Father. His love and His grace will always be enough for us. This gives us hope. We are full of trust in the Lord who wills our salvation. All we must do is our best to know, love, and serve God in this world so as to be happy with Him forever in the next.
Yours in our Lord and our Lady, Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Pastor