Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In the end, the "criterion of judgment" according to which we will be examined will be "love, practical charity toward our neighbor," and this judgment "will be the reckoning of that which has taken place in earthly life," of the choice that each one makes, about "with whom we wish to ally ourselves: with Christ and his angels, or with the devil and his followers," who have "eternal fire" in store for them.

This choice, made possible by man's freedom, and its consequences in the last judgment were evoked today by Benedict XVI, who, receiving a pilgrimage group from Amalfi, spoke of the solemnity of Christ the King, which is celebrated tomorrow, and of the passage in Matthew that describes the return "in his glory" of Jesus, "the good shepherd" and "the just judge."

"He is the king of the entire universe," the pope said, "but the critical point, the place where his kingdom is at risk, is our heart, because there God encounters our freedom. We, and not only we ourselves, can block him from reigning over us, and can therefore pose obstacles to his reign over the world: over the family, over society, over history. We men and women have the ability to choose with whom to ally ourselves: with Christ and his angels, or with the devil and his followers, to use the language of the Gospel itself. It is up to us to decide whether to practice justice or iniquity, whether to embrace love and forgiveness or vengeance and murderous hatred. Our personal salvation depends on this, but also the salvation of the world. This is why Jesus wants to include us in his reign, this is why he invites us to collaborate with the coming of his Kingdom of love, of justice and peace. It is up to us to respond to him, not with words, but with actions: by choosing the way of practical and generous love toward our neighbor, we permit Him to extend his lordship over time and space."

As for the moment of judgment, "the Son of Man in his glory, surrounded by his angels, acts like the shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats, putting the just on his right and the wicked on his left. He invites the just to enter into the inheritance prepared for them from eternity, while he condemns the wicked to the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and for the other rebel angels. The criterion of judgment is decisive. This criterion is love, practical charity toward our neighbor, especially toward the 'least,' the people in the greatest difficulty: hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, in prison. The king solemnly declares to all that what they have done or not done toward the least, they have done or not done to Him. This means that Christ identifies himself with his 'least brethren,' and the final judgment will be the reckoning of what has already taken place in earthly life. Dear brothers and sisters," Benedict XVI concluded, "this is what is important to God. He does not care about historical royalty, but wants to reign in the hearts of persons, and from there over the world."