Death and Our Particular Judgment
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We begin with our death.
Death is not a bad thing. In fact, because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning. As St Paul said: “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” And Teresa of Avila wrote, “I want to see God and, in order to see him, I must die.” Finally, Therese the Little flower stated “I am not dying, I am entering life.”
In spiritual classic The Imitation of Christ we read:
“Every action of yours, every thought, should be those of one who expects to die before the day is out. Death would have no great terrors for you if you had a quiet conscience .... Then why not keep clear of sin instead of running away from death? If you aren't fit to face death today, it's very unlikely you will be tomorrow.”
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Our Particular Judgment
The catechism teaches that death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ. Immediately after death each person will be rewarded in accordance with his works and faith. CCC 1021
The catechism tells us (1022) “Each person receives his eternal reward or punishment in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ.”
This will result in one of three things happening:
I. Entrance into the blessedness of heaven for those who have been transformed by grace and virtue to a holy life;
II. A process of purification in purgatory, after which they will experience the joy of heaven;
III. Or immediate and everlasting damnation.”
By what standard will be judged? The CCC tells us we will be measured against the life of Christ. Is that our goal? Do we desire and strive after becoming more and more like Jesus?
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Fulfilling Our Heart’s Desire
We should understand our particular judgment not so much as a courtroom with God sitting in Judgment but rather as God giving us what we wanted throughout our lives.
C.S. Lewis, in his book The Last Battle, from the Chronicles of Narnia series gives an amazing image of Judgment.
Aslan, the Lion who represents Christ, comes to Judge all the creature of Narnia, behind him stand all the stars so that Aslan’s huge black shadow streamed away to his left.
· As the creatures came rushing on
· They came right up to Aslan
· And one of two things happened to each of them
· They all looked straight in his face
· And when some looked, the expression of their faces changed terribly…
· For some…It was fear and hatred
o They did not find in Aslan what they wanted
· They swerved to His left and disappeared into His huge black shadow.
But the others looked in the face of Aslan and loved him
· They found in Aslan what they wanted
All these swerved to His right, into the light of Heaven
If at death the soul has spent its life seeking and choosing God, then it gets what it wanted – union with God in heaven.
On the other hand, if a soul has spent its life choosing itself over and against God and neighbor, then at death it gets what it wanted: itself and that is All! (That is Hell)
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O.K here are the four best steps to ensure that when you die and face your particular judgment you pass the test:
First, commit to meditate on Jesus, the Word of God every day. This is what we do in the Rosary. Keep striving to build the habit daily meditation. Not just a few days a week but every day.
Second, end every mediation with a resolution – some simple concrete and practical thing to put into practice from your meditation. Without a resolution our behavior will not improve.
Third, end each day or begin the next day with an Examination of Conscience
Begin with Gratitude
a. For what am I grateful?
b. To whom am I grateful? First, I am grateful to God. All these things for which I am grateful are concrete manifestations of his love for me.
c. How have I corresponded to His love?
Then look back over your last 24 hours and acknowledge where you have thought, said and done things that were wrong or failed to do what was right, the things that left us empty and unhappy.
a. This honest assessment will cause us to grow in our desire and love for God, purifying our disordered desires
Finally, learn from your examination and make a game plan to live better today – this is part of your resolution flowing out of prayer – some simple concrete thing to put into practice today to live better and be more happy.
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The fourth step to prepare for death and our particular judgment is to go to confession at least once a month.
The Catechism (1470) reminds us: In the sacrament of Reconciliation, the sinner, placing himself before the merciful judgment of God, anticipates in a certain way the judgment to which he will be subjected at the end of his earthly life. For it is now, in this life, that we are offered the choice between life and death, and it is only by the road of conversion that we can enter the Kingdom, from which one is excluded by grave sin. In converting to Christ through penance and faith, the sinner passes from death to life and "does not come into judgment."
In the Sacrament of Reconciliation Jesus forgives and heals us of our sin and he floods our soul with Himself to strengthen us to overcome all the things that ruin happiness.
The Church encourages frequent reconciliation and in all of her approved apparitions Our Mother has asked us to go at least once a month.
Confession is like a dress-rehearsal of Our Particular Judgment.