Fascination with wickedness obscures what is good, and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.
Wisdom of Solomon 4:12

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Last Judgment Sunday

The historic church, the undivided church, the Orthodox Church has always clung to the teachings of Christ, the apostles, & church fathers, & thus has always taught that “faith and faithfulness” are inseparable.  And, it is “faith & faithfulness” being one and the same thing that is addressed by St. Matthew’s gospel, ch 25: vss 31-46.  There we are presented with “the parable of the Last Judgment.”

Our Lord tells this parable on the very last day before he was arrested and put to death, and He does this not only to inform us, but also warn us that our time just like His earthly time will one day end. It is a parable that reminds us that while trusting in Christ's love and mercy is absolutely imperative, it is equally imperative to be sure that we will experience His righteous judgment based on our faithfulness to Him when He comes again in glory.
Consequently, if our hearts remain hardened and unaffected by the Love of God in Christ, we should not expect the Lord to overlook our transgressions on the day of judgment simply because He is a good and loving God. & although God does not desire the death of a sinner, He also expects us to turn from our wickedness and live.
Let me say this in a more plain way: God does not repent for us, nor does he believe for us, nor does he act for us. We must of our own volition, repent, believe, and act according to the truth, anything short of that is self-deception.
As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? "And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. Eze 3: 11-12
Excerpt from the Homily of the Sunday of the Last judgment. Fr.. Carlos Miranda

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