My Dear People,

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, the readings are apocalyptic. That means they deal with what is going to happen at the end of time. Daniel, even though he is in the Old Testament, does deal with apocalyptic events.  Today Daniel is very clear on what is going to happen during the end times.   He says those who are found to be written in the book of life will be saved.  They shall awake:  meaning they shall come back to life.  This is the earliest enunciation of the resurrection of the dead. 

A great tribulation will occur which will result in the vindication of the elect of God.  Michael, Israel’s patron angel, will arise to assist the redemption of Israel.  Many who sleep in graves will awake to live forever, others to be given to everlasting horror.  The faithful who have stood fast during the times of persecution are promised eternal reward.

The passage ends stating that those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.  That is a key passage.  This is telling us that if we lead others to justice we will shine like stars. Remind them of their sins and encourage them to repent of their sins, so they can straighten out their lives with the Lord.  That is our mission as baptized Christians, and we should not take this lightly.

Who are the wise? The wise are the ones who hear the word of God and keep it.  Those who obey the teachings of the Lord as found in the Gospel without compromise.  They find no excuse for their action, admit when they are wrong, are sorry for their sins and move on with their lives. 

In the Gospel of Mark is mentioned “He who endures to the end will be saved.”  For each person this “end” is the moment of death.  As the Magisterium of the Church teaches, each person, immediately after dying, passes on to enjoy his or her eternal reward or to suffer eternal punishment—though some must undergo purification in purgatory before entering the joy of heaven:  “We make the following definition:  In the usual province of God the souls of all the saints who departed from this world before the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also those of the holy apostles, martyrs, confessors, virgins, and others of the faithful who died after receiving the Baptism of Christ—provided that they had no need of purification at the time of their death, or will not have such need when they die at some future time. After the purifications these souls are in heaven with Christ, joined in the company of the holy angels. We also define that the souls of those who die in actual mortal sin go down into hell soon after their death, and there suffer the pains of hell.  Nevertheless, on the day of Judgment, all will appear with their bodies before the tribunal of Christ to render an account of their personal deeds, that ‘each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body’ (2 Cor 5:10).

Yours in Christ,

Sincerely yours, Fr. Vincent Clemente