I am digging around Pope Benedict XVI’s letter on hope. Spe Salvi was given to the world in 2007. It is appropriate we consider in as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year. Today the focus is on judgement as a setting in learning hope.

When I think about the Last Judgement, Michelangelo Buonarroti’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel comes to mind.

The Sistine Chapel was built under the reign of Pope Sixtus IV between 1477-1480. It was meant to be a fortress-like private chapel. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to work on the Sistine Chapel between 1508-1512. Originally the fresco project was to have 12 apostles. In the final presentation, Michelangelo had 300 characters he painted in the chapel.

Conclave was first held in the Sistine Chapel 1492 and since 1878 held every Conclave consecutively to elect the Supreme Pontiff.

To see the image of hope in this fresco, one must understand Michelangelo’s David. I write a brief description about David here.

In Michelangelo’s Last Judgement we see Christ in the image of the new David. We behold Christ as King and shepherd. This image of Christ as judge should put holy fear into our hearts. This fear is rooted in love. This fear evokes a responsibility to live in Christ.

When I stand before my King his all-holy presence and purging love becomes a fire that burns and saves me. It burns away all falsehood freeing me from the lies of my life and allows me to be totally myself in God. I also work out my personal salvation through Eucharist, prayer, and almsgiving.

In life or in death, love is the guiding force that moves us to see God face to face. Saint Hilary Poitiers said,

For us the fear of God consists wholly in love, and perfect love of God brings our fear of him to its perfection. Our love for God is entrusted with its own responsibility: to observe his counsels, to obey his laws, to trust his promises.

This is our hope.