St. Matthew Chp. 23-28

I have to admit I am both curious and scared about the End of the World. Whether I will live to that day, chances are pretty low, both scientifically and biblically. Scientifics say that water will soon become scarce and that trees are being cut off, and ecosystems are damaged, and that the Global Warming is increasing. All these are ways in which Humanity could end. Though I am aware of the consequences of all this, I doubt these consequences will become of a larger problem, while my generation lives.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angles with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
(25:31-32)

I imagined if it was physically possible, for all the nations to be gathered around him; where would we all be gathered? How? But then again, God isn’t really a physical being. Perhaps, by gathered it is meant that everyone (I guess all humans on Earth) shall be paying attention to him, and will be communicating with him, deep within themselves, as some kind of deep reflection.

But something else came to thought…not all humans on Earth are Catholics; not all of them believe in this God that will gather all. I wonder what those people will do…perhaps they are not included in this massive gathering, or perhaps they will be, and chosen like all the others.

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand. but the goats on the left.
(25:31-33)

The sheep (or the people at God’s right, the ones who are saved and allowed to enter Heaven) were ‘saved’ or chosen in the first place, because of their good performance on Earth. By good, I mean (and so the Son of man thinks) the people that

For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
(25:35-36)

They didn’t exactly clothed, or received Jesus—the Son of Man—himself, but rather, Jesus is identifying himself with the rest of the world. Meaning that these people were good, for receiving others (not just Jesus), for helping others in general.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left had, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angles:
(25:41)

As for the goats, the opposite people, Gos is sending them to hell, to the fire, to the pain. All these, considered as the punishment for the bad performance of these people while they lived.



Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the tour wherein the Son of man cometh. (25:13)

I’ll talk about this ‘day’ from a more personal point of view. First, after reading this, I asked myself: would I be ready? I’m not really sure about this, cause, never have I received a stranger or clothed someone, but I’ve done charity, such as giving things away and visiting neighbourhoods of people of a less status. But, then again, most people do this, without really wanting—without dedicating their heart towards it, doing it because they have to.

And, I guess it is this final detail (that though it is not directly stated in the Bible, it certainly is true), ever doing the tasks listed in the citations above will not guarantee our entrance to Heaven. For them to count, they shall be done with all attention and devotion put into it—wanting to do it; not doing it because you have to, or because you know that you are going to get a reward at the end, rather just because you want to.

So, we never know when the End is going to happen. As to be save, do good, do what God and Jesus approve, and but your full devotion into it. Don’t do it because you want to be save, do it because you really want to, and you know it will benefit others.