Homily: September 10, 2024, Tuesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Deception).

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 “Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.”

In Christian theology, there is something known as the Last Things, which are namely these four: Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell.

Death is the event at the end of this life when our mortal body is separated from our immortal soul.

At that moment of death, each person is judged by God based on our faith and conduct in this life, and our soul will either be rewarded or punished.

The reward is heaven, eternal bliss and joy when we come face to face with God, our Creator. Some will go through purgatory, a temporary state of purification in preparation for heaven.

The punishment is hell, eternal torment and condemnation for our rejection of God.

Heaven is real. Hell is also real.

Once, during a talk for priests, the speaker asked us, “When was the last time you preached about eternal punishment?”

I tried to think of a recent homily or message where I spoke about it, and there was none. I realised that in general, people do not want to hear, talk, or even think about the end of life.

Most people, especially the youth, prefer to focus on the present moment. ‘YOLO’, an acronym for ‘You Only Live Once’, was a common trendy concept which directed the way people lived, believing that after death, there is nothing, so if there is anything they want to enjoy or wish to have in life, they would go all out to get it, regardless of whether that could cause trouble or harm to others. 

It is a selfish thought ‘you only live once, so don’t waste in on others, live fully for yourself’.

The focus is on personal comfort and selfish pleasures, the approach is self-fulfilment and immediate gratification. 

However, if they seriously reflect on the Four Last Things, and if they begin to believe in heaven and hell, based on the judgement of the present life, they will understand the world’s values as distractions and temptations, and hopefully will convert their way of living.

In today’s first reading, St. Paul advises the people of Corinth, and us, to always consider the end of life, to work towards eternal life, and not be deceived by the world.

He lists several sins that were prevalent in his community, warning those who commit them that they will not inherit eternal life but will face eternal punishment. Some of these same sins are also prevalent and accepted as a norm in our modern world.

Know that the Gospel is Truth and will never change, but the world constantly tries to water down or twist the truth, in denial and deception.

I remember, a couple of years ago, a Hollywood actress said, “Abortion is another word for mercy.” Statements like these not only confuse people, but may lead many to believe in them.

Let us not be deceived. As Fulton Sheen warned, “Before the sin, Satan assures us that it is of no consequence; after the sin, he persuades us that it is unforgivable.”

Let us be prudent and vigilant, stay away from the deceitful and attractive temptations of the world, and strive daily to receive stay close to the Word of God and focus on attaining eternal life. Heaven is real. Go for it!

Amen.


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