Mysteries of the Kingdom IV ~ The Accounting

St. Matthew 13:36-43 (7/24) Gospel for Thursday of the Sixth
Week after Pentecost

Mysteries of the Kingdom IV ~ The Accounting: St. Matthew 13:36-43, especially vs. 41, 43: "...His angels...will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness....Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father...." In the Funeral Service of the Church there is a fair warning that each of us should heed: "Let us hearken unto what the Almighty crieth: Woe unto those who seek to behold the terrible day of the Lord! For lo, it is darkness: for all things shall be tried with fire."

The warning is plain: there will be a final accounting when "all things shall be tried by fire." The warning also is the substance of the Lord Jesus' explanation of His Parable of the Tares. Note: in three parables the Lord encourages us to grow in Him (Mt. 13:3-43), and, with each parable, He explains its meaning, adding a sober warning to encourage self-examination (13:9,19-22,30,43). In the present passage, He explains one of the parables to help us look directly at the destiny of all men - God's friends and enemies. In particular He reveals what shall befall any who adamantly refuse to grow and who persist in opposing the Lord's plain truth.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, as the "Son of Man," reveals Himself as "the Sower" (vs. 37). We understand that "His field" is the "world" and includes everyone through all time, in all places, in every culture, people, and nation (vs. 38). As He continues, the Lord says explicitly, "the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one" (vs. 38). He divides them into "sons" of the Kingdom or "sons" of the wicked one. Neither are servants or slaves. Hence, St. Peter is able to remind the Faithful in Christ: "you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9).

Through His Church, God calls all men to be "kings and priests to our God" to "reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:10). Thus, in the final accounting, the princely sons of God "will shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father" (Mt. 13:43). They will be illumined with the uncreated light of God, gleaming from within them, like their Lord - blinding and brilliant (see Mk. 9:3; Mt. 13:43; 17:2). What potential our Lord reveals for every single human being!

In His parable of the tares, the sons of the wicked one (Mt. 13:38) are those who choose to be princes in Satan's domain. In this present existence in the flesh, evil men appear to be numbered among "the rulers of the darkness of this age" (Eph. 6:12), like Judas and Ananias (Acts 5:3) - examples of "lost souls." In every generation there are those of whom St. Symeon the New Theologian speaks, who love only "the body, mortal life, sensual pleasure, and the material world;" and he adds, heretics. These also are among those who are in "ignorance and impudence...storing up for [themselves] the element of eternal fire." However, take care not to declare that anyone, without question, is "a son of the wicked one," even though we can be sure that vicious, inhumane, and reprobate behavior, if not corrected and repented of, is a direct path to perdition. As the eprobate live among us, pray for them, that they might take as their own the plea of the good thief on the Cross, "Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom" (Lk. 23:42).

Yes, for everyone there will be a final accounting, "before the fearful Judgment Seat of Christ." God will assess every human being. The Lord's explanation of the Parable of the Tares foretells this. Now, Christ calls everyone, for His deep desire, manifest in His Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection, is that all should receive the shining transformation of the righteous.

As I think of the hour of account, and the coming of the Lord, Lover of mankind, I tremble and cry with grief, O my just Ruler, alone most merciful, receive me repentant.