Lesson 15

GLORIFIED CHRIST

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                  Jesus who ascended into heaven sits in glory at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He is the lamb who, after gaining victory over sin and death reigns in heaven as a glorious conqueror. Choirs of angels and saints offer worship constantly before this king of kings and chief of chiefs. 

    The Second Coming

     

                                      Jesus said  “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If itwere not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I goand prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so thatwhere I am there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going”  ( 14: 2- 4). Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Father assures us that he will come again to take us to heaven.  His holy wish is that we, his disciples, should be where he is.  Jesus is coming again to reward each one according to one's actions. The reward forthose who do good is eternal life and for those who do evil, eternal damnation.

    The Last Judgment

     

                       When the Son of Man comes with all his angels, in all his glory, he will be seated on his glorious throne. All the peoples will be gathered before him. He will make those who were good, stand on his right and those who were evil, on his left. To those on his right he will say, “Come, you that are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and yougave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”
     
                         Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord when was it that we saw youhungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? Andwhen was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visitedyou?” And the king will answer them,“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me”(Mt. 25: 31-
    40).                           
                                       Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, departfrom me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food… As you did not do it to one of the least ofthese, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, ut the righteous into eternal life' (Mt. 25: 41- 46). Whether we get reward or punishment at the last judgment is determined on the basis of brotherly love.The good we do to others will be considered as being done to Jesus and the evilagainst others will be considered as evil done to Jesus. It is our deeds thatbring us salvation or damnation. Bliss of heaven awaits those do good whiletorment of eternal fire await those who do evil. These sacred words teach us hat it is not enough not to do evil; but not doing the good that you should do is  also punishable. St. John the apostle says, “Those who do not love a brother or ister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen” (1 Jn: 20). 

     

    Elijah-Holy Cross-Moses Seasons

     

                          During this period we reflect on the glorious second coming of Christ and the victory of the cross. The transfiguration of Jesus reveals to us the spirit of this season. Elijah and Moses are the two prophets who appeared with the glorified Jesus during the transfiguration. Moses represents the law whileElijah, the prophets. What the disciples got on Mount Tabor was a preview of the second coming of Jesus who, with his New Testament of Love, completed the Old Testament and who fulfilled the prophecies.
                                  This season helps us to reflect upon certain realities like end of the world, death, and judgment and to be prepared for the second coming of Christ with a repentant heart. 

     

    Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

     

                              Exaltation of the Cross is the main feast of this season of Elijah-Cross-Moses. This feast isassociated with the incident where Queen Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, discovered the cross of Jesus. Since early times of the hurchthere was a belief that a glorious cross will be the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven on his second coming. 

    Revelation

     

                                Revelation is the last book of the New Testament  The author of this book is St. John, the apostle. This was written while he was in the Island of Patmos.This book teaches us that, When Christ appears at the end of the world the evildoersshall be destroyed while his followers who do good shall enter with him into the new world of glory.

     

    Season of Dedication of the Church (PALLIKUDASSA)

     

                               This is the last period in our liturgical year. There are four weeks in this.At the start of this season we dwell upon Christ offering his bride, the Church, to his father after the last judgment. At the end of times, the church, with herchildren meets her bridegroom in the bridal chamber of the heavenly Jerusalem. This is a preview of the eternal bliss that awaits us.
     
                              The sanctuary (madbaha) is symbol of heaven and the altar stands for the throne of God. On this altar the ord of God enthroned symboli Christthe Word -, who is seated in glory at the right hand of the father. When the priestcelebrating the Holy Mass approaches the altar, he kisses it in the middle, then on the right and then on the left. By this he is worshipping the Holy Trinity. 
                              Starting with the birth of Jesus and ending in the glory of heaven after thelast judgment, the liturgical year reminds us that we, Christians have been called to reach heaven through the Church.
     
                         The Church, a pilgrim with heaven as destination, attains that goalthrough a pilgrimage through the liturgical year, starting with the season of annunciation and ending with the season of the dedication of Churchsanctification, experiencing and participating in the Christ mysteries. Our liturgyalsomakes the salvific experience accessible to us. The liturgical year helps us to reach the joy of heaven by gaining strength from the Holy Mass and leading alife of selfless love and of sharing. 

    Let us Pray

     

    O! Jesus, our resurrection and hope, bless us to
    be at your right side on your second coming.
     

    Read the Word of God and Narrate

     

    Matthew 25:31-46
     

    Word of God for our Guidance

     

    'Truly I tell You, just as you did it to one of the least of these
    who are members of my family, you did it to me' (Matthew. 25:40)
     

    Let us do

     

    Please write in the following chart the things done by those who are at the
    right side of Jesus as it is mentioned in the statements of the last Judgements
     

    My Decision

    I will not lose any occasion I get to help others

     

    Find out Answers

    Why will Jesus come a second time?

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    What blessing will Jesus give to the people on his right at the last judgment?

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    On what basis will we receive the eternal life or damnation at the time of the final judgment?

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    What is the important feast in the seasons of Elia-Sleeva-Moosa?

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    What does the season of Pallikudassa remind us?

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    Let us Discuss

    Activity

    Let us Enlighten our Hearts

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