Last judgment.

Can you imagine coming to God’s judgment, hearing the assessment of your life, and saying, “What are you talking about? I don’t remember it that way. When have I seen you like this and like that?” It would probably be like a bad dream, wouldn’t it? Those from the left were somehow surprised by today’s Gospel.

And now, try to imagine a young woman being courted by a young man. He keeps telling her he loves her. He invites her to dinner, gives her flowers, and tells her how beautiful she is. But he makes almost no effort to get to know her, to get to know her heart. He never tries to comfort her when she’s struggling, nor to help her when she’s sick; he doesn’t ask her how she feels, what she’s going through; he doesn’t listen to her; he doesn’t care what she experienced that day; and she doesn’t even remember what makes her happy. One day, he proposes to her. Should he be surprised when she rejects him?

We could compare this young man to the “caps” from today’s Gospel reading to those from the left. They don’t understand why Jesus doesn’t want to let them go to heaven. Maybe they confessed their love to Jesus but didn’t show it. Jesus does not want to drive us away; he does not want to lose us. But how do we know him when we talk about Him and love for Him but do not show Him love here? Is it true love? Does the young man from that example love the young woman?

To truly love is to know whether God or the people around you genuinely. This expression is even used by Scripture to express love: Adam knew his wife Eve, that is, he loved. And we can only know when we notice. It starts with noticing Jesus, who is with me.
“Jesus, I don’t want to miss you!”