Try and reconcile the picture of Jesus arrogantly separating sheep and goats with a flick of his finger with that unforgettable image of Our Lord hanging on a cross surrounded only by criminals and those who hate him.

Remember his words?

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do".

Can this be the same man, the same God? It is far more reminiscent of the disciples in the gospel of Luke asking Jesus to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans because they weren't very hospitable to the guys on their last visit.

I simply cannot reconcile this image of Jesus as grim judge with what I know of the way he lived, the people he loved, the amazing grace he shared. In fact, despite what it says in our creed, I simply do not believe in a day of judgement that has Jesus callously sending folk to the eternal fire. I honestly do not believe in one day of judgement. I believe that there are endless days of judgement. They happen constantly, every day of our lives.

A woman is brought to Jesus by the Pharisees. She has been caught in the act of adultery. Everyone assumed that judgement would be forthcoming. She would be stoned to death as was the law. Do you remember what Jesus said? "I do not judge you." not because adultery isn't a sin but because this woman already judged herself. Jesus admonishes her to go and sin no more. Her very life has been rescued by grace. Another woman crashes a party where Jesus is one of the guests. She is a prostitute. Everyone is outraged over her presence. Everyone but Jesus. He welcomes her. He doesn't pretend that she is not a sinner or that her sin doesn't matter. But he praises her love and offers her forgiveness. Why should we think that Jesus will act differently after our death?

Zaccheus was a liar and a cheat. When Jesus ate with Zaccheus there were no words of condemnation from Jesus. Zaccheus condemns himself. The very presence of Christ turned that day into a judgement day.

Every time we confront beauty, truth, goodness and love, we are judged by our reaction.

Leslie Weatherhead tells of the man who visits the Tate Gallery in London and strolls amidst some of the greatest paintings in all of history.

"I don't think much of these paintings" he says to the guide.

Whereupon the guide courteously replies, "The paintings, sir, are not on trial."

When a teenager says that Beethoven is boring, it is not Beethoven that is judged.

When Pilate dragged Jesus into the judgement hall, it was Pilate who was judged rather than Jesus.

Judgement day happens every time we are confronted with Christ, with beauty and truth, love and goodness. How we respond indicates who we are.

It is judgement day.