Church of the
Annunciation

On the flight back from Brazil, Pope Francis replied to a reporter’s question: “Who am I to judge that person?” It caused a stir! But Pope Francis did not say that there is no judgment. On Friday morning at Mass I read from the Gospel according to Matthew: “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory and then he will repay each according to his conduct.” In Sunday’s Gospel according to Luke Jesus speaks of the Son of Man coming like a master returning from a wedding and finding the servants alert and waiting for him. And again like a thief wishing to break in a house. Jesus exhorts his disciples to be vigilant and faithful servants. Faith kindles hope in God’s mercy. Faith is also a search for the truth. Some say when we die that we will meet Jesus face to face. We will truly come to know him as fully as we come to know ourselves. Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew speaks of judgment of the nations at the coming of the Son of Man. The measure of judgment will be whether or not we have fed Jesus, quenched his thirst, welcomed him as a stranger, clothed him when he was naked, visited him in prison, cared for him when he was sick. To our astonishment, we will learn that when we did a kindness to the least of our brothers and sisters we did it unto him. In Brazil at World Youth Day, Pope Francis spent time with prisoners and addicts. Pope Francis visited a slum. Pope Francis was reminding us that there is indeed judgment when we live without concern and compassion for the poor.