Today’s second reading conveys a powerful image:
Brothers and sisters:
Indeed the word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
As we near the end of our Church year, we’re looking more and more at the four final things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell.
Are we prepared? Am I prepared?
How am I doing in my battle against demons and evil spirits for my eternal soul?
This is pretty violent imagery, of course, and perhaps not exactly comfortable for us in this age. Comfort, after all, has seemingly become more important than anything else.
But God’s judgment will separate out my true self, bone from marrow. If I’m not truly committed to God when I die, I’m lost.
For eternity.
Show me the way, Mary!