YOUR CHOICE
I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
John 12:47
INTRODUCTION
Every Saturday morning a few of my friends meet to pray and talk about God. It is our own small group of faith formation. No one gets to heaven alone. We are made for community, the mystical body of Christ.
One day the subject of hell came up and we all remarked how little we hear about hell in our homilies at Mass. We range in age of 30s, 50s, 70s, and 80s. At any rate, a friend who grew up in the 50s like I did proclaimed how the preaching and teaching about hell by the good sisters kept him on the straight and narrow regards chastity through his teens and dating years.and still today thankful for that guard rail that kept him pure and connected to Jesus. “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.”
A mortal sin separates us from God and there is nothing worse that can happen to any of us. Just imagine separated from our maker and creator, the one who loved us into existence for all eternity. The pain of permanent estrangement, alone, is worse than any bodily punishment. The thirst of longing for God that is implanted in our hearts never to be satisfied.
At Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary reminded the three children that many souls go to hell because they have no one to pray or make sacrifices for them. Sister Lucy later described this vision of hell in her memoirs. “We saw a vast sea of fire. Plunged in this fire, we saw the demons and the souls of the damned. The demons were distinguished from the souls of the damned by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals…
Mary told the children of Fatima they must add this prayer to the saying of the rosary for so many souls are in danger of going to hell. These souls must repent and turn their lives around before it is too late.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, Save us from the fire of hell. Take all souls to heaven, especially those Who are most in need of thy mercy.
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. We cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves…This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called “hell.”
1035 Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.
1037 God predestines no one to go to hell…this, is our choice, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY ON ME
WHAT SCRIPTURE HAS TO SAY ABOUT HELL
OLD TESTAMENT
The doctrine of hell is suggested in the Old Testament, but it is much more clearly revealed in the New Testament. Hell is not specifically stated in Old Testament but Judgment certainly is.
They shall go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against me; For there worm shall not die, their fire shall not be extinguished; and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. Isaiah 66:24
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2
NEW TESTAMENT
Our Lord Jesus Christ made frequent references to the activity and influence of Satan throughout His ministry, Jesus, himself, underwent the temptations and wiles of the devil in the desert after His Baptism in the Jordon.
Jesus says it is a place of eternal torment Luke 16:23, of unquenchable fire Mark 9:43, where the worm does not die Mark 9:48, where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret Matthew 13:42 and from which there is no return, even to warn loved ones Luke 16:19–31.
Matthew 7:13
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
John 15:6
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
CONCLUSION
God gave us free will but that does not mean we are free to sin. While human freedom is a good, human freedom is not in itself an absolute. We are not free to do evil. “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to “the slavery of sin.” (CCC 1733)
Deny the Devil and Hell at your own risk! The devil loves denial of his existence. A vast majority of Catholics in America reject the Church teaching on the devil and hell. This is just fine with the devil! If the devil is rejected then it is easy to reject Jesus, our Savior, as well and His Father! Who needs a Savior or the Father who sent Him? If no Satan, who needs God! Let’s call a spade a spade, stop calling darkness light. “The devil is a liar and father of all lies.” John 8:44
If you feel that things are spinning out of control in our world and in our Church today, you’re right. Be assured, we have not arrived at this place in history by accident. There is an intelligent evil being behind all of this work. He is sometimes called Satan, bent on our destruction and the destruction of Jesus’ Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.
This evil has gone unchecked by faithful Catholics as well as the Church’s hierarchy for too long. When was the last time you heard a homily on Satan or hell? Why have most parishes dropped the prayer to St. Michael at the end of Mass as we prayed in the 50s and 60s? Are we not in danger anymore? Satan is laughing his fool head off at our stupidity. What a great con job. Are we suckers too?
We need to get on our knees and beg God to deliver us from the sinful evil of this current generation, and protect the Church Jesus founded, from infiltration of the devil! As Catholic Christians who are blessed with faith, sacraments, and Church teaching, we must lead the way by bearing witness to the truth every day, every place. “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Luke 12:47-48
“Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:8
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, And do thou, O heavenly hosts, By the power of God, Thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits Who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
A year ago, or two, during the solar eclipse , daylight got so diminished the stars became visible during that day. It seems that our daily lives are so busy that it is too easy to put out-of-mind our weaknesses and what we hear about Satan and his reality.