The Dos and Don'ts of the Last Judgment

 In the gospel passage today, on the Sunday of the Last Judgment, our Lord relates what the Last Judgment will be like: as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Clearly, the Church prescribes this focus on the Last Judgment right before Lent to help aid us on the path toward repentance.

But when we think of repentance, we often think of a list of “don’ts”. That is, we have done some of the don’ts, and need to repent.

In my training as a teacher, it was highly suggested that I not have a sign of class rules full of don’ts: No talking. No eating. Instead of telling the students what not to do, I was encouraged to tell them what behavior was expected: Please be respectful when others are talking. Water is allowed in the classroom, but eating needs to be in the cafeteria only. As a result, student behavior was less rebellious and more cooperative.

In the same way, instead of thinking of a list of don’ts for the Christian life, what would be our list of dos? In fact, the Church has given us exactly that in the weekday readings these past couple weeks, in 1John.

The Apostle John quite clearly says that living a life of righteousness is the very way we live in Christ, and living in him is how we prepare for the Last Judgment.

For instance, he says, Little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

So, the big, number one thing on that “do” list is to practice righteousness.But that still seems so broad. What does that mean?

The Apostle knew we were going to ask. So, he said: By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

There it is: love others. To “practice righteousness”, we love. And love is the best preparation for that day of Judgment, as St. John says: God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment.

The Church does not remind us of the Judgment to strike fear in our hearts, but to call us to the love of brother. It is right there in the gospel reading today: the sheep cared for their brother.

Back in 1John, this is what he says about fear and love...right after those words about judgment: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.

And St. John continues, in his characteristically simple and straight-to-the-point style: If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

• If “loving your brother” means asking for forgiveness, go do it.

• If it means buying groceries (either for someone who does not have the resources or just does not have the time), do it.

• If it’s keeping yourself from judging, give them the benefit of the doubt, and forget it.

• If a family is stretched thin and looks like they need a date night, offer to keep the kids.

• If love, in your case, is intentionally inviting that quiet somebody over for dinner, that one who you observed never gets invited to folks houses, go for it.

• If we are too quick to respond and we know our words are too much for others, too harsh, to direct, bite that tongue…out of love.

Even if we don’t want to…especially if we don’t want to. That is love.