Posted on 08/22/2010 3:52:00 AM PDT by markomalley
Today’s Gospel is a sobering summons to be serious about our spiritual life. Now it is a sad fact today that many, if not most people are not serious about their spiritual life. They do not pray, they do not read scripture, do not attend Mass or go to confession. They are playing around and goofing off like life were some big joke. They are often locked in serious and unrepented sin and will not be ready when judgment day comes. It is just a fact.
Perhaps you think I am overly pessimistic but I would argue that I am on strong biblical grounds. In today’s Gospel the Lord dispatches one of the most common errors of today. The error held is that most people are going to heaven. The Lord rather directly refutes this and summons us to be sober and serious in seeking salvation. Let’s look at the readings for today in three stages.
1. The Danger Described. – Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough (Luke 13:22-23). Elsewhere Jesus elaborated on this more: Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Mat 7:13-15). So, when asked if those to be saved are many or few the Lord answers, “Few” and goes on to describe that “many” will be unable to enter the Kingdom of Heaven but are on the wide and easy road that leads to destruction – see photo above right!
This of course flies in the face of what most people think today. We have to be sober about this and realize that many live lives that show little interest in God or the Kingdom of God. At some point this decision becomes final and God accepts their disinterest as their final choice. Beware! To persist in worldliness and to be self absorbed increasingly becomes our final disposition.
Now it is true that every says they want to go to heaven. But it is usually a heaven that they have invented. But the real heaven is the fullness of the Kingdom of God. And the Kingdom of God has values that many people today do not want. It is a place where justice, mercy, generosity and chastity are celebrated. Now it is clear today that many today are not interested in forgiving those who have hurt them. They do not want to love their enemy. They surely do not want to live chastely. The concept of justice annoys them and usually makes them suspicious that someone is after their money. Generosity too annoys them for they would rather not part with a dime. But this is what the Kingdom of God is all about and what is celebrated in heaven.
Further, heaven is described in the Book of Revelation (4,5,8) as like a liturgy where God is at the center and is praised. Hymns are sung, a scroll containing the meaning of all things (Scripture) is read and the Lamb is on a throne-like altar. There are candles incense, prostrations, standing and all the things of the Mass. Now many people today say by their absence from Mass that none of this interests them. OK fine, God will not force it on any of them. Neither will he force them to accept the values of the Kingdom of God. But THIS is what heaven is about, the fullness of the Kingdom.
Now as time goes on, a person grows hardened in their aversion to the Kingdom of God, to heaven. Eventually their aversion becomes forever fixed. So on Judgment Day they are not able to enter heaven and frankly would not be happy there anyway. So here is the danger: walking the wide and worldly road that hardens the heart to God and the things of God so that heaven is “not able” to be tolerated. Hell is not God’s fault, it is the preference of damned who have hardened their hearts to God and the realities of the true (not the fanciful) heaven.
2. The Divine Desire. Now God does not want hell for anyone. He does not rejoice in the decision of the damned but he does respect it. God is clear he wants to save everyone: As surely as I live, says the LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel? (Ez 33:11-12) Thus in today’s First Reading there is described how God widens the call of salvation to the whole world: I come to gather nations of every language; they shall come and see my glory. …that have never heard of my fame, or seen my glory; and they shall proclaim my glory among the nations. …Some of these I will take as priests and Levites, says the LORD. (Is 66:18-21) Yes indeed, the Lord wants to bring people from every nation and race to his kingdom. The Lord wants to save us all. So the problem of Hell is not about God and what He wants, it is about us and what we want. God will ultimately respect our final choice. I have written more on this here: http://blog.adw.org/2010/07/hell-has-to-be/
3. The Delivering Discipline This then leads to a manner in which we can be sober and serious in seeking salvation. It is described in the 2nd reading today: My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.” Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it (Heb 12:5-7). We have a clear call from the Lord to submit our lives to his discipline and training. Notice how closely related the discipline is to discipleship. The Lord has a discipline for us that makes us true disciples.
Our discipline includes daily prayer, daily scripture, daily repentance, frequent confession, Mass every Sunday. We are to grow in the training of the Lord which comes from the study of our faith and the reception of the Sacraments. As we do this we grow in desire for the things of God and heaven. We come to share the kingdom values and are less worldly. More and more we start to love who and what God loves, we start to have His priorities, are transformed by the renewal of our minds. This is what God’s discipline, what his teaching, grace and mercy do for us.
So, in the end, God is not our enemy, he is our Savior and the only one who can get us ready for judgment day. But we have to be sober and serious in seeking salvation. All the playing around and goofing off, the presumption and worldliness has to end. The Letter to the Hebrews from today’s second reading has three last things to tell us:
Sadly there are many like myself who have accepted our fates of being condemned. Sometimes you can see it coming and understand there isn’t much you can do. At least for me it is.
I do all that ... but I still have a hard time being serious. I've found that it's a short step from "serious" to "depressed," and crying all the time scares the kids.
Hey Rev, I’m at some station of the same boat. The following is another man’s conclusion after having his fate tested with some regularity.
The Stockdale Paradox
“This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end - which you can never afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” James B. Stockdale
The tragedy of that statement is that there is nothing that God cannot forgive if you are truly contrite for whatever it is that you have done and accept His mercy, made available to anybody through the sacrifice of Christ.
Literally the only sin that He cannot forgive is the one of your not turning to Him and asking for that forgiveness until the time of your death.
If you are truly sorry for whatever it is that you have done, then I encourage you to take your case to the Throne of God, plead guilty to whatever it is (singular or plural), and beg for the mercy of the Divine Court. If you do that and then accept the Mercy of God, He will not only wash away your guilt, but will, as you let Him, fill you with peace.
This makes it sound like worshiping God is an arduous task. I don’t think that is a requirement; in fact i think worship should be joyful. One can pray, read Scripture, attend Mass and go to confession with regularity, but if it’s done as if you are checking things off a “to do” list, it probably is not quite as meaningful or serious as someone who does it joyfully, out of love for God. I am thinking your family is of the latter bent : )
The rest of your excellent and well stated post aside, I have to ask: Why do you believe this? Is our Father in Heaven not big enough to want us all in Heaven with him, even those who on their deathbeds confess with a full heart that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior?
Respectfully,
USC
P.J. O’Rourke used a phrase that was something like, “critical, but not serious.” That’s how I am about my faith ... nothing is more important, but being chirpy is the way I do it, instead of being serious.
Don't you believe that for a second as that's Satan's voice telling you that. The fact of the matter is, our Father in Heaven loves those who are lost and His desire for them is to come home to Him. There is no bigger celebration in Heaven than when one of His lost comes home.
May I suggest you start by reading the The Story of the Prodigal Son and then in your own words and thoughts, go to our Father in prayer. He already knows your heart and feeling of helplessness at what you perceive your fate to be. Let me tell you, His plans for you are far beyond that which you may think you understand now. I know, I've been where you are.
Reach out to me via freepmail if you'd like.
Well, I misspoke and apologize. I should have said, Literally the only sin that He cannot forgive is the one of your not turning to Him and asking for that forgiveness even at the time of your death.
If you die in a state of not being sorry for your sins, repentance will not happen after you die.
If you die in a state of despair, believing that God is unable or unwilling to forgive you your sins, that, too, will accompany you after your death. "blessed are they that have not seen and have believed."
But if you trust in God, even up to the point of your death, He can forgive anything. Again, "blessed are they that have not seen and have believed."
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
--Matthew 12:31&32
No, actually, that is the one I was referring to.
No need to apologize, we're on the same side. Thanks for the clarification, we have the same understanding.
Regards,
USC
I do all that ... but I still have a hard time being serious. I've found that it's a short step from "serious" to "depressed," and crying all the time scares the kids.Hhhhmmmm, being serious about Christ should bring joy, not depression. Have you tried reciting the rosary frequently? And do you go to daily Mass? I don't know how folks stretch out Jesus for a whole week; I get depressed just thinking about it :) ...
I know where you a comming from. Here’s my suggestion.
Don’t listen to anybody tell you about religions, churches, do’s and don’ts, or any of the other “my religion will help you” comments.
In the privacy of your own home, with no one else around, where no one else can hear you, ask Jesus to show you that if He is real to somehow let you know. Tell Him that you want to know Him but can’t figure out all the different things you hear. He WILL show you if you truly want.
To me, “being serious” in this context implies an excessive emphasis on myself and on what people think about me. Joy comes from thinking about how great God is, how sweet Mary is, how perfect Frank is, how wonderful my FRiends are, how cool New Zealand is.
Maybe my attitude is a scandal, but oh, well. The duties of my life require that I “keep the lights up” for everyone, so Cheers all around.
Although we may aspire to becoming more serious in our quest for Salvation, most of us fall far short of the mark. If one thinks about that for too long, it could not only be depressing but could also slow us down.
Better to concentrate on the good we can do for ourselves and others, and thank God for the opportunities we have to share our talents and gifts.
FRiends and friends are God’s gifts to us; often we don’t recognize what a blessing they are, but that’s what meditation and retreats are for...to concentrate on the things that have done us the most good and show appropriate gratitude by spreading the good things around.
Your light shines at the top of the hill, TC!
It's pretty easy, actually...We are drawn to Him...Don't need a rosary...Don't need Mass...
And most importantly, we are filled with His Spirit...How could we have to work to stay in contact???
We have His words in a book...
The best advice is to get into the book and stay in it...Like they say, sin will keep you from that book...But that book will keep you from sin...
Although we may aspire to becoming more serious in our quest for Salvation, most of us fall far short of the mark. If one thinks about that for too long, it could not only be depressing but could also slow us down.If folks keep praying and partaking of the Sacraments frequently, they should fall short less and less as time goes by. I think this is what Msgr. Pope is referring to in his article.
My point exactly! Never give up!
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