November 15, 2020
Fr. John Mary’s homily for Sunday, November 15th discusses our hope in God’s Divine Mercy and Justice. Scriptures often refer to the “Coming of the Lord” and how that should be our guide and focus during this life to give us Hope. Although we often witness evil and injustices seem to triumph during our earthly life, our strength is in God’s Divine Mercy and Justice.


Key Points
- The new testament speaks often on the coming of the Lord. God wants us to know that justice is coming.
- Souls have divine justice in hell, purgatory and heaven, but there is not much justice in our world today.
- The Lord reminds us that He is coming as a means to strengthen our hope and that evil will be punished.
- Jesus reveals to us that after His coming, He will separate the good from the evil.
- Story of an ordained priest who witnessed his judgement and was saved from hell through the intervention of the Blessed Mother.
- Seek God’s will and you will be ready to face His judgement without any fear.
Summary
All throughout the New Testament and in today’s reading from Thessalonians, St. Paul speaks of the coming of the Lord. As Christians, we see and face many injustices in this world, but have our hope in the final judgement which will bring justice to the world.
As the coming of the Lord signals the coming of justice in the world, this message brings hope to Christians who are trying to follow God’s will in their life. Jesus gives us an opportunity to seek His will and trust in His mercy so that we may be prepared for our individual final judgement.
“….the day of the Lord will come, like a thief at night…” – a lot of emphasis by St. Paul on the coming of the Lord – in letters of Thessalonians – four references to coming of the Lord – “….we shall always be with the Lord, comfort one another with these words…”- all the new testament speaks often of the coming of the Lord – why so much insistence on the coming of the Lord? – one message He wants us to know… justice is coming – important to know because in the world we live in right now, we don’t see much justice –a lot of injustice – people not getting what they deserve – evil people prospering – many innocent people being taken advantage of – discouraging – Lord telling us that is only a temporary situation – end for each one of us individually with our time on earth – and also for all humanity – only in this brief time on earth there is injustice – there is justice in hell, purgatory and heaven – billions of souls are living in this divine justice – the Lord is telling us He is coming because it is a guide for how to live right now – warning to realize that evil will be punished – also to strengthen our hope – examples in the gospel – Jesus is revealing something that only He can reveal – as to what happens afterwards – gospel of last judgement, Jesus will separate those who have done good while on earth and those who didn’t – Jesus reveals the justice that is coming – an example of a priest ordained in 1973 – involved in a head on collision – he survived and recovered – returned to his parish – reading gospel of fig tree – became illuminating, shaken up, recalled what had happened at the accident – heard words of Lord at his judgement – always thought he would be able to explain away what he had done – but the Lord was showing him the grave sins he had committed and at the end of his judgement the Lord said he deserved hell – and he said Lord was only honoring the choices he had made in his own life – justice comes immediately after this life – justice is coming – at that moment he heard a woman say “Son will you please spare his life and his eternal soul”– Lord replied, “Mother, he has been a priest for 12 years for himself, and not for m
Me, let him reap the punishment he deserves” – she said, “Son, if we give him special graces and strength, then let’s see if he bears fruit, if not, then your will be done” – very short pause afterwards and He said, “Mother he’s yours“– the priest said he had had a devotion to the Blessed Mother since he was little, but he had been unfaithful to her – he sensed most powerfully the intersession of the blessed mother – “now and at the hour of our death” – she was interceding at the hour of his death – life is a pilgrimage, here on earth – it is a test- time so short here compared to eternity – priorities mixed up – we have a heavenly mother – the priest’s mission is to let us know that hell exists, and that His love outweighs justice – Jesus said to St. Faustina “before I come as a just judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy” – that’s what is happening right now in this time we are living – the revelation of Divine Mercy, He is opening wide the door of His mercy – each person has to make a free choice – he who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy, has to pass through the door of My justice – we all have that choice to make – a warning to those who are doing evil – a hope to those who trust in His mercy and are trying to be faithful – we don’t know when it’s going to happen for each one of us or for the whole world – either one could be very soon – we don’t need to know when – if we seek God’s will every day we will be doing what He wants us to do, and then we will be ready whenever that day comes, and we don’t have anything to fear – St Paul said in reading today “but you brothers and sisters are not in darkness for that day to overtake you” – don’t have anything to fear – children of the light are not in that situation – seeking God’s will, and we trust in His mercy, we don’t have anything to worry about – this is a message of great encouragement that justice is coming – He wants to say to each of us “come enter into the joy of your master” – difficult time of our work on earth, many trials and sacrifices, it’s also a time of opportunities – and after it will come our eternal reward and punishment if you rejected Him – if faithful to Him you will hear “Come enter into the joy of your master.”