Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

The Last Judgment

Preparation:

A. Engage the audience to be open to what is to come for all humanity, Jesus Christ the
Son of God, who will come to judge the living and the dead! He is the Ά Ω the
beginning and the end.

Dialogue: Good morning everyone. It is good to see all of you ready to participate in
our journey of faith in Jesus Christ. As we have mentioned before the teaching of the
Church that will be discussed today should at least bring to your attention the call of
Holiness. Our Baptism, especially through the renewal of our Baptismal promises means
we are not only Baptized into a new life in Christ, we are also baptized into his death. Jn
3:5-6 ff.

Rite of Baptism

“Father, look with love upon your Church, and unseal for it the formula of Baptism. By
the power of the Holy Spirit give to this water the grace of your son, so that in the
sacrament of all those whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin
and rise to a new birth of innocence by water and the Holy Spirit.”

- RBC 54

The goal is to get to Heaven. Heaven is what we should be longing for! We seek
perfection and purity in order to function in Heaven. We seek the beatific vision!

Stress the need for Conversion to Christ. Cite the biblical foundation for the Sacrament
of Penance in Jn 20:20-22.

B. Outline for the Liturgy of the Word (Opening Prayer)

Reading: Mt 25:31-46 (Proclamation of the Word); Utilize the readings for July 29th
or 30th memorial of St. Martha.

Silent Reflection

Common Response

Utilize the Song from the Steubenville Project: King Jesus by David and John Wallace.
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

The time will come when our soul must be

prepared, to receive the final judgment of our
Lord!

The Last Judgment:

 Serves as Christ’s victory over evil.

 The Resurrection of all the dead, both the just and unjust will precede the
Last Judgment.
 It is the hour when the tombs of the dead will hear the voice of Christ and
those who have done good shall receive the resurrection of life and those
who have not done good to the resurrection of judgment. CCC 1038

“And Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him
who sent me. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the
world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my
sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world
but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge;
the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. For I have not spoken on
my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to
say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment it eternal life. What I say,
therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me.’” Jn 12:44-50
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

Christ’s grace: CCC 1038

 Christ will come “in his glory and all the angels with
him . . .
 Before him will be gathered all the nations . . .
 And he will separate them from one another as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the goats . . .
 And he will place the sheep at his right hand – Heaven
 But the goats to the left – Hell

Effect: CCC 1038

 They will go away into eternal punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life. (Mt 25:31, 32, 46)

“Signed with the perfumed oil, the baptized receive the indelible
mark, the seal of the Lord, together with the gift of the spirit that
conforms them more closely to Christ and gives them the grace of
spreading the sweet odor of Christ.”

- RC 9
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

Christ’s work in the Last Judgment and man’s

relationship with him.

A. In the Last Judgment:

 . . . the truth of each man’s relationship with Christ

shall be revealed. CCC 1039

B. The Last Judgment:

 . . . will reveal to the furthest consequences what

each man has done or failed to do.

The Order of Mass:

Penitential Rite:

I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that

I have sinned through my own faults.

(They strike their breast)

In my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what

I have failed to do; and I ask the blessed Mary Ever Virgin, all the
angels and saints, and to you my brothers and sisters, to pray for
me to the Lord our God.
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

St. Augustine’s teaching on the Last Judgment:

CCC 1039
All that the wicked do is recorded, and they do not know. When
Our God comes, he does not keep silence . . . he will turn towards
those at his left hand. . . . I placed my poor little ones on earth for
you. I as their head was seated in heaven at the right hand of my
Father – but on earth my members on earth were in need. If you
gave anything to my members, what you gave would reach their
Head. Would that you had known that my little ones were in need
when I placed them on earth for you and appointed them your
stewards to bring your good works into my treasury. But you have
placed nothing in their hands; therefore you have found nothing in
my presence. (Sermo 18, 4:PL 38, 130-131; CF. Ps 50:3)
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

More fruits of the Last Judgment

 The Last Judgment will come when Christ returns in

glory. Only the Father knows the day and the hour;
only he determines the moment of its coming.

 Through His Son Jesus Christ he will pronounce the

final word on all history.

 We shall know the ultimate meaning of the work of

creation and of the entire economy of salvation and
understand the marvelous ways by which his
Providence led everything towards its final end.

 The Last Judgment will reveal that God’s justice

triumphs over all the injustice committed by his
creatures and that God’s love is stronger than death.
CCC 1040; Song of Solomon 8:6
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

So, what’s the “Message” of the Last Judgment?

 to call men to conversion while God is still giving them
(us) the acceptable time . . . the day of salvation. CCC
1041

The Message also:

 Inspires a Holy fear of God

 It commits them (us) to the justice of the Kingdom.

 It proclaims the “blessed hope” of the Lord’s return,

when he will come. CCC 1041

Results of the Message:

 “to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all
who have believe.” CCC 1041; Titus 2:13; 2 Thess 1:10
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

Notes: Include a storytelling on Purgatory vs. Heaven.

Rapture story - Memphis

Possible Chalk Talk – outline the call to conversion

Display the copy of the Last Judgment

 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

Questions for Reflection:

1. What is Christ asking of us at the Last Judgment?

2. What are some of the ways and means the church provides for us in preparation for
the Last Judgment?

3. How is living a sacramental life crucial in having an intimate relationship with

Christ?
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

Sacred Scripture

“. . . he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,

and I will raise him up on the last day . . . He who eats myflesh
and drinks by blood abides in me and I in him.”

- Jn 6:54, 56

Order of the Mass

“Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”

(2 Pt 3:13)

- Order of the Mass, Mystery of Faith

“We offer you his body and blood, the acceptable sacrifice which
brings salvation to the whole world.” (Heb 13:15; 1 Pt 2:5)

- Order of Mass, Eucharistic Prayer IV

 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

Anointing of the Sick

“I commend you, my dear brother/sister, to almighty God, and
entrust you to your Creator. May you return to him who formed
you from the dust of the earth. May holy Mary, the angels, and all
the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life. May
Christ who was crucified for you bring you freedom and peace.”

- Commendation for the Dying, 215

Prayer of Resignation to God’s Will

My God, I do not know what must come to me today. But I am
certain that nothing can happen to me which You have not
foreseen, decreed, and ordained from all eternity. That is
sufficient for me. I adore Your impenetrable and eternal designs,
to which I submit with all my heart. I desire, I accept them all, and
I unite my sacrifice to that of Jesus Christ, my divine Savior. I ask
in His name and through His infinite merits, patience in my trials
and perfect and entire submission to all that comes to me by Your
good pleasure.

Amen
Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

And Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in

Jn 12:44-46

Serves as Christ’s victory over evil.

The Resurrection of all the dead, both
It is the hour when the tombs of the d
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

The Last Judgment will

reveal even to its furthest
consequences the good each
person has done or failed to
do during his earthly life:
- CCC 1039
 Copyright © 2011 Marlon De La Torre

“We look for the resurrection of the

dead and the life of the world to come.”
Amen
- Order of Mass; Profession of Faith; Nicene Creed

“He descended into Hell, on the Third

day he rose again from the dead. He
ascended into Heaven, and is seated at
the right Hand of the Father, to judge
the living and the death.”
- Apostles Creed