Does My Life Really Matter?
Opening Prayer
Lord,
You are just and merciful.
Help me understand that my choices matter.
Give me honesty to face the truth
and courage to live responsibly.
Amen.
Part One
The Reality of Judgment
The Church teaches that every person will stand before God.
This is called the particular judgment.
At the end of time, there will also be the final judgment,
when all things are revealed.
Judgment is not:
Arbitrary anger.
Sudden cruelty.
Unexpected punishment.
Judgment is truth revealed.
God sees completely.
Nothing is hidden.
Every action, every intention, every choice
is known.
If truth exists,
and if human freedom is real,
then accountability follows.
Freedom without responsibility is not real freedom.
It is chaos.
Pause and Reflect
Do I live as though my choices have eternal consequences?
Do I assume that everything will simply “work out” without repentance?
Part Two
Justice and Mercy
Many people are uncomfortable with judgment.
It feels severe.
But consider:
If there were no judgment,
injustice would have the final word.
If cruelty and goodness end the same way,
then morality collapses.
Judgment affirms that:
Actions matter.
Goodness is not ignored.
Evil is not forgotten.
God is both just and merciful.
Mercy does not eliminate justice.
It fulfills it.
Christ’s sacrifice makes mercy possible.
But mercy must be received.
Refusal of grace has consequence.
Consider
If God never judged,
would that be loving toward victims of injustice?
If actions have no ultimate consequence,
why strive for virtue?
Part Three
Responsibility and Freedom
You are not a passive observer in your own life.
You are a moral agent.
Your choices shape your soul.
Habits form character.
Character directs destiny.
The Church teaches that mortal sin — freely chosen grave matter —
separates the soul from God.
That is serious.
Not because God is severe.
But because freedom is real.
God does not force love.
He offers it.
Judgment reveals what we have chosen.
Heaven is communion with God.
If someone has consistently rejected God,
judgment confirms that choice.
Reflect Honestly
Do I treat serious sin lightly?
Do I rely on vague optimism rather than repentance?
Have I considered the eternal weight of small repeated choices?
Part Four
Living in Light of Judgment
Fear alone does not sustain faith.
But awareness does.
Judgment reminds us:
Time is limited.
Grace is a gift.
Opportunity for repentance is real.
The goal is not anxiety.
It is clarity.
The saints did not live in panic.
They lived in awareness.
Judgment gives seriousness to daily life.
Small decisions matter.
Hidden acts matter.
Interior motives matter.
Nothing is meaningless.
If Christ rose,
and if Heaven is real,
then judgment completes the picture.
Life is not drifting toward nothing.
It is moving toward encounter.
Quiet Reflection
Sit quietly.
Imagine standing before Christ.
Not in terror.
But in truth.
What would you want to say?
What would you wish you had done differently?
Remain in silence.
This Week
Choose one:
• Make a careful examination of conscience.
• Go to Confession if needed.
• Reflect on one habit that shapes your character.
• Pray simply: “Lord, help me live responsibly.”
Closing Prayer
Lord,
You are just and merciful.
Guard me from complacency.
Strengthen my resolve to live faithfully.
Prepare me for the day I stand before You
with honesty and hope.
Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 