33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

4 Last Things: Part 2 (in brief)

​The manifest message of western culture today is to avoid thinking about the last things, the great truths like death and judgment. Accordingly, imbued with the cultural creed, the problem for many Christians is not so much anxiety about the end of our world but living as if there were an eternity of tomorrows and no judgement to come. The manipulative message of the YOLO creed tells us to enjoy ourselves while we can here on earth and, don’t worry – be happy.  Subsequently we get too focused on a future which is essentially uncertain and mortgage that future against final judgement. We have been indoctrinated to believe that all we have to do is take the right steps, get the right breaks and have enough money to guarantee a future under our control. That living the Christian life means fitting the Gospel into our chosen lifestyle and our chosen future. 
 
That is foolish. It is not the mindset for living that will lead to a face to face encounter with Jesus at judgement, where we hear the words 'well done, good and faithful servant'.