Each November we conclude the current liturgical year before beginning the Season of Advent and our preparation for Christmas. 

 

During these last weeks the Church reminds us of what are famously referred to as the Four Last Things. Those are death, judgment, heaven and hell.

 

Part of the beauty of our Catholic faith, and one of the reasons it shows itself as most worthy of our trust, is that it tells us the whole truth about our nature and existence, and about God Himself. 

 

This truth often touches upon elements that we would rather shy away from. But, to understand the meaning of the reality in which we exist as well as how our nature fits into that reality, we need the whole story. Especially about those Four Last Things, even though the truth of that story may make us uncomfortable. 

 

Of course we have already had a sample of those things in the celebrations we have observed at the beginning of this month. 

 

On Nov. 1, we celebrated all the saints. That is, all of those who are already with God eternally in heaven. 

 

On Nov. 2, we prayed for all souls, that is, those who have died and who will one day be united to Christ in heaven, but for now are in purgatory awaiting the final purification of their souls. 

 

At this time of year nature itself reminds us of death. The leaves fall from trees. Corn fields turn brown. Our landscape displays a certain barrenness. 

 

These visuals remind us of the truth of our faith — that because of sin, death entered into the world. Each of us will face the moment of death. How good for each of us to pray now, hopefully ahead of the moment of crisis, for a peaceful death.

 

But thoughts of death should not simply frighten us. As one spiritual writer said, we should not lose sight of what is so positive. 

 

It is through death that we will follow Jesus to the Father. We should remind ourselves daily that the practice of our faith and living a good life prepare us in death for the possibility of our entrance into heaven.

 

Following death, each of us will stand before God to be judged. We might fear that judgment when we think of all of our sins, however judgment will also recall the good we have done. Our Lord will be mindful of every prayer we whispered, every Sunday Mass we attended, every confession where our sins were forgiven, and every poor person that we helped. 

 

The practice of our faith means that we will not stand alone before God. Rather, we will stand with the Church and the sacraments. That thought is deeply consoling.

 

Of course the judgment will ultimately be about whether through our life and faith we have chosen heaven. Have we desired to be with Christ, in truth and joy, forever? The only alternative will be that we have chosen against being with God. That is, in choosing sin over good, we will have chosen for ourselves hell itself. 

 

Either way, God will respect our freedom. He will honor our choice.

 

In reminding us of the Four Last Things, the Church teaches us that heaven and hell are real. This world is passing and none of us can escape death or avoid judgment.

 

Still, just as the leaves of fall dry up and blow away, next spring the new life will come. If we have been faithful in preparing for the Four Last Things, the truth is that Jesus awaits us with new and eternal life.