This Sunday February 23, 2025 is referred to as the Sunday of Meatfare, but more so the Sunday of the Last Judgement.
The themes of love and judgement are often mentioned side by side in the gospels, for God is love and whoever lives in love lives in union with God and God lives in union with Him. Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have the courage, strength and fortitude on Judgement Day.
Often we Orthodox Christians have a misconception about the theology of judgement; God does not cause judgement at any time. You see, according to our understanding, God is love and by His very nature he cannot do what is evil, hateful, or destructive to anyone for we are His children, created in the image and likeness of God.
Life outside of the love of God results in evil, falsehood, hatred, guilt, alienation, and pain. Life apart from God leads us to an agony of darkness in which people torment themselves and each other. It has been referred to as a spiritual hell created not by God but by the willful refusal to turn to God.
This is the essence of the Gospel for the Sunday of the Last Judgement.
