Isaiah 66:18-21 Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13, Luke 13:22-30
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life.”
I am not sure if I have ever preached on hell before. Fire and brimstone.
Do you believe in hell?
Does our culture believe in hell? We need to keep asking that because our
culture keeps denying it. Nothing is
really wrong. It all depends. Relativism run rampant!
Does the Church still teach about hell? Yes indeed! Would you be able to talk about intelligently? The Catholic Catechism teaches five basics about hell:
Does the Church still teach about hell? Yes indeed! Would you be able to talk about intelligently? The Catholic Catechism teaches five basics about hell:
1. We
must choose God. (“We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to
love him.”)
2. Jesus
described hell as fire and eternal
separation from God. Scriptural
passages about hell are instructions, images, parables about separation from
God. Jesus is a no-nonsense Man who
tells it like it is. This Gospel reveals that His favorite sport is not softball
but hard ball.
3. The Church
agrees with Jesus.
4. The teachings
on hell are ultimately a call to
responsibility / conversion.
So what is the main purpose of our believing in hell? It’s similar to taking on the responsibilities of driving. Traffic laws are serious (and scary) reminders that you are the one driving. You were given keys / instructions / power / and a destination. Same with your spiritual journey. There is such a thing as spiritually wrecking your car (soul).
In Luke’s Gospel, this is serious matter for the disciples: Don’t forget that they are on the road to Jerusalem here. Their destination is Jerusalem. Scary but Glorious. God’s people have always been on the road: For example, look at the imagery in the 1st reading: I come to gather nations of every language on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD,
For us, we are on the road to something better. A better life. Greater freedom. Deeper satisfaction in life. What is that for you? Which road signs have you been ignoring. If you picked up your road map, can you put your finger on where it is you want to go? If you could make a turn off the wrong road and get back on the highway, how many miles will your drive before you turn the wheel? In many ways, the lord urges us to turn now!
Why is this Gospel given to us on this day? Because today is the day for conversion. Right now. And we celebrate that wonderful choice by announcing Amen when we behold what Christ did, he broke himself, took the hard way and give it up for us. Before we receive the Eucharist, we beg God’s mercy in the words of the Eucharistic prayer. God’s desire is to save us from something that is a real threat – hell.
Oh, and for those who like to focus more on judgement than mercy, God predestines no one to go to hell. God’s desire is for repentance and a contrite heart. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life.”
We have no greater modern example than Mother Teresa, who is to be canonized a saint in about three weeks. As we know from her writings, Mother had doubts about God and His presence in her life, in this world. Despite her doubts, she still chose to work hard. One commentator put it this way. “The greatness of Mother Teresa is that even when she was deprived of the spiritual satisfactions of feeling God's presence in her life, she did not waver, she soldiered on. She was not deterred in her mission. And what she didn't have by way of feeling, she compensated for by way of will. In doing so she teaches us all something about love: it is not merely a sentiment, to be set aside when feelings come and go, but rather a decision of the will.”
Perhaps the coming weeks might be a good time to reflect in the spirit of Mother Teresa and ask the Lord to show you the right path. He has trusted you with the car keys. May we drive with the Light as our guide and Christ as our destination.
So what is the main purpose of our believing in hell? It’s similar to taking on the responsibilities of driving. Traffic laws are serious (and scary) reminders that you are the one driving. You were given keys / instructions / power / and a destination. Same with your spiritual journey. There is such a thing as spiritually wrecking your car (soul).
In Luke’s Gospel, this is serious matter for the disciples: Don’t forget that they are on the road to Jerusalem here. Their destination is Jerusalem. Scary but Glorious. God’s people have always been on the road: For example, look at the imagery in the 1st reading: I come to gather nations of every language on horses and in chariots, in carts, upon mules and dromedaries to Jerusalem, my holy mountain, says the LORD,
For us, we are on the road to something better. A better life. Greater freedom. Deeper satisfaction in life. What is that for you? Which road signs have you been ignoring. If you picked up your road map, can you put your finger on where it is you want to go? If you could make a turn off the wrong road and get back on the highway, how many miles will your drive before you turn the wheel? In many ways, the lord urges us to turn now!
Why is this Gospel given to us on this day? Because today is the day for conversion. Right now. And we celebrate that wonderful choice by announcing Amen when we behold what Christ did, he broke himself, took the hard way and give it up for us. Before we receive the Eucharist, we beg God’s mercy in the words of the Eucharistic prayer. God’s desire is to save us from something that is a real threat – hell.
Oh, and for those who like to focus more on judgement than mercy, God predestines no one to go to hell. God’s desire is for repentance and a contrite heart. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life.”
We have no greater modern example than Mother Teresa, who is to be canonized a saint in about three weeks. As we know from her writings, Mother had doubts about God and His presence in her life, in this world. Despite her doubts, she still chose to work hard. One commentator put it this way. “The greatness of Mother Teresa is that even when she was deprived of the spiritual satisfactions of feeling God's presence in her life, she did not waver, she soldiered on. She was not deterred in her mission. And what she didn't have by way of feeling, she compensated for by way of will. In doing so she teaches us all something about love: it is not merely a sentiment, to be set aside when feelings come and go, but rather a decision of the will.”
Perhaps the coming weeks might be a good time to reflect in the spirit of Mother Teresa and ask the Lord to show you the right path. He has trusted you with the car keys. May we drive with the Light as our guide and Christ as our destination.
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