Day 21 What is Hell?

We continue to roll along.  First I have to give a shout out to St Peter’s and their amazing run to the elite 8.  After their first victory their coach was asked if he was worried during the game.  He answered , “ No, it is only basketball.”  What a great Jesuit answer!  Okay, back to business.  Thomas continues to work on his masters but he also finally has his conversion moment.  During the year (I think we are in 1938 now) he finally goes to Mass one Sunday.  He states it is his first sober Sunday morning in New York in his life.  He gets scared after the homily, when they start the Eucharistic celebration, and leaves.  He doesn’t go back.  Several weeks or months later he is sitting alone in his apartment and a voice inside his head says, “what are you waiting for?” He argues with himself for several minutes then gives up and marches down to the church where he tells the priest he wants to become a catholic.  He is disappointed that he is given several books to read but he feels even more strongly that he wants to be a catholic. He then starts the year long process of initiation.  He goes on a retreat and hears a sermon about hell.    He states:

My opinion is that it is a very extraordinary thing for anyone to be upset about such a topic.  Why would anyone be shattered by the thought of hell?  It is not compulsory for anyone to go there.  Those who do, do so by their own choice, and against the will of God, and they can only get into hell by defying and resisting all the work of Providence and grace.  It is their own will that takes them there, not God’s.  In damning them He is only ratifying their own decision—a decision which He has left entirely to their own choice.  Pg 217

Now this is NOT what I was taught growing up.  It is what I was taught in high school and college, however.  If we love God, try, and are sorry for our sins we get to heaven!  Isn’t that wonderful news?  Jesus died to save us.  Only if we reject God  does God ultimately grant our wish and finally leave us alone.  What would you call a place where God is not constantly showering down his grace on us but finally says sadly, “ okay, have it your way” and turns His back?  That place my friend would be called “hell”.

My prayer today Lord, thank you for saving me!  Please give the gift of faith to those who seek you and soften the hearts of those who resist you.    Amen 

Pax

Joe