IT’S NOT easy to be good all the time. It’s much easier to choose halfway between being good and being bad at different times, sometimes simultaneously, and convince ourselves we’d go to Heaven because unlike Hitler, such a horrible sin as genocide is beyond our reach. Nor have we ever entertained even one murder.
But that doesn’t seem to be acceptable. There are writings of old relating cases of people who had thought that way and, having entered into agreement with friends to alert each other about the reality of hell whoever crossed the veil first, were allowed to fulfil the commitment by manifesting themselves to their friends to declare with terror their ternal condemnation… in a place called hell.
Writings also of saints who, in their lives on earth were privileged to be shown the realities of hell, tell of its levels where pain and terror vary accordingly.
So in hell, one can only presume, within the shades of justice, that those who committed horrible deeds such as genocide and declared no remorse to the end must be in the lower, more terrifying recesses of hell, while others, including half-baked Christians habituated in their toxic cocktails of mixed good and bad, could land on higher planes not as dark but, as the writings say, as terrifying.
And the eternity of it all. I am not discouraged by difficulties of sincerely trying to be good, regardless of all the bad falls and the risings, with assurances that even saints had struggled against temptations to the end of their lives.
But it’s just not right to be charitable on Christmas time and then lust or steal or gossip here and there, now and then for the rest of the year. A Christian choice, no matter the grave scandals of the past, must go one way. Or at least a sincere, determined effort on this must show every moment, non-stop, without exception.
Humbly and unshown to the end. And now to the usual highlight of this column. The following was the Blessed Mother’s message for the world, as conveyed in Medjugorje last Feb. 3:“Dear children! I am here, I am among you. I am looking at you, am smiling at you and I love you in the way that only a mother can.
Through the Holy Spirit whocomes through my purity, I see your hearts and I offer them to my Son. Already for a long time I have been asking of you to be my apostles, to pray for those who have not come to know God’s love. I am asking for prayer said out of love, prayer which carries out works and sacrifices.
Do not waste time thinking about whether you are worthy to be my apostles. The Heavenly Father will judge everyone; and you, love him and listen to him. I know that all of this confuses you, even my very stay among you, but accept it with joy and pray that you may comprehend that you are worthy to work for Heaven.
My love is upon you. Pray that my love may win in all hearts, because that is the love which forgives, gives and never stops. Thank you. ” Also from our Lady of Medjugorje was this message conveyed last Jan. 5: “Dear children! Also today I call you: live your vocation in prayer.
Now, as never before, Satan wants to suffocate man and his soul by his contagious wind of hatred and unrest. In many hearts there is no joy because there is no God or prayer. Hatred and war are growing from day to day.
I am calling you, little children, begin anew, with enthusiasm, the walk of holiness and love; since I have come among you because of this.
Together let us be love and forgiveness for all those who know and want to love only with a human love and not with that immeasurable love of God to which God calls you. Little children, may hope in a better tomorrow always be in your heart. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
