Let us Prepare to meet the Lord!

Let us Prepare to Meet the Lord

If we are ready in our mind to answer the call when the angel of death comes with a hand to guide us home, will we honestly be prepared to go with this heavenly creature?  Of course, when it is time to leave this earth we won’t have anything to say about it.  But how our demeanor is adjusted to our final days here, will our souls actually have the adherence to sanctity needed to meet the Lord?

How many people actually give attention to the state of holiness that Jesus mentioned to his disciples?  You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.  For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?  Do not the tax collectors do the same.  And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that?  Do not the pagans do the same?  So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.  (My 5: 43 - 44, 46 - 48).

It isn’t surprising when we see or hear about envy towards others becomes so intense that hatred and revenge conjures up an evil entity that places unforgiveness between one time friends or relatives to a dark appearance of no return.

It is our premise that should induce a real look into our behavior towards those we love, but somehow forget who we are and sadly place a block between us.  This is just one simple iota we should consider when the first question the Lord will extract from our memory regarding how we treated another person.  Remember, the Lord will not ask us or even consider how many Holy Masses we attended, rosaries we recited, or money we gave away to make our giving a reality for earning salvation.  Jesus said, “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.  For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.”  (Mt 7: 1 - 2).  This verse alone may be the impact on our future in eternity.  

I often wonder how many people die without being forgiving to those that we hurt or they hurt us. If the last thought one holds onto as they breathe their last is an envious or get even with another may be the very words that will spell out a final judgment on our soul.

Eternity is a wonderful event that we all should look forward to with an endearing hope that we shall see God as he is and enjoy it all in a manner that exceeds all earthly pleasures.  Let us then prepare to meet the Lord and hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things:  I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness.”  (Mt 25: 23).

Ralph B. Hathaway