All of these things, if we use them devotionally are now to our good.  But when they are over, then our past neglect of them will stand accusingly against us.

For at our death, when we appear before our Blessed Lord, we shall be judged according to our opportunities.  That servant, Our Lord has warned us, “who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.  But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating.  From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required…” (NRSV, Luke 12:47-48).

We know our opportunities now, and when we are judged we shall also know and see spread out before us our every neglect of them.  For then we shall at last know the truth, and shall see ourselves, not as we seem now either to others or to ourselves, but as we really are.

And Our Lord, as he looks into us, will pass sentence, according to the direction in which the soul has been moving.  Those souls who die in penitence and the love of God and who are moving nearer to him will go to Purgatory where the process will continue until it issues in perfection.  But those who have by their own will moved so far away from God that, in the words of Holy Scripture, “there is no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:16), they will depart to Hell, that place of permanent separation from the all-holy God.

Each of us in now fashioning his or her own judgement, and preparing the evidence which will then be given.  The state of our soul will be our own prosecution, our own witness against ourself.  There will be no defence, because the truth will be as apparent to us as it will be to our Judge.