November 18
The denarius
t the end of
the world all Christians, called at the eleventh hour, will receive the
joy of resurrection together with those who went before them. All will
be rewarded at the same time, but the first-comers will have had the longest
to wait. Therefore, if they receive their reward after a longer period
and we after a shorter one, the fact that our reward is not delayed will
make it seem as though we were receiving it first, even though we all receive
it together.
In that great reward, then, we shall all be equal — the first to the
last and the last to the first. For the denarius stands for eternal life,
in which all will have the same share. Although through diversity of merit
some will shine more brilliantly than others, in the possession of eternal
life there will be equality. What is endless for all will not be longer
for one and shorter for another. What has no bounds will have none either
for you or for me. Those who lived chastely in the married state will have
one kind of splendor; virgins will have another. The reward for good works
will differ from the crown of martyrdom; but where eternal life is concerned
there can be no question of more or less for anyone. Whatever may be the
individual's degree of glory, each one will live in it eternally. This
is the meaning of the denarius.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from
Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
HTML text prepared by David P. Steelman
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