2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 / Luke 19:11-28
Whenever we hear of the term "Judgement Day" just what are the feelings and thoughts that we get?
It is certainly a day of reckoning, a time when we have to give an account of our lives, and only we ourselves know what kind of an account to give.
It will have to be an honest and truthful account, and out of our own mouths we will pronounce judgement on ourselves.
In the gospel parable, that was what the master told the servant who kept the pound and did nothing with it.
Knowing what was expected and yet not bothering about it certainly calls for accountability and punishment.
So what is expected of us? The 1st reading gives a terrible account of what it means to be faithful to God and to do what is expected of us.
We may not have to face that kind of physical torture and torment when it come to keeping faith with God.
Yet in our trials and temptations, we will surely face the spiritual torture and torment of the evil one to sin and go against God.
The evil one will also entice us with lies and deception to take the soft and easy way and slowly walk int the blindness of darkness.
Yes, we need to pray that the Lord will deliver us from evil and to grant us the grace to live a holy life so that we can sincerely give an account of our lives on Judgement Day and be rewarded for our faith in God.