The Narrow Gate and a Loving God: Our Duty to Pray for the Dead
This is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” ~Mt 7:13-14
Between yesterday’s verse and today’s selection, my mind raises questions about a sensitive subject.
“I see where you’re coming from Juan, but you absolutely cannot make a case for a God of perfect love who would torture people forever…”
That is a response I got after commenting on a Protestant article about the potential for a Christian going to hell.
I can understand the sentiment that it’s inconceivable for a loving God to allow a soul to go to hell, but Jesus’ references to judgment and damnation cannot be ignored.
Do all Christians go to heaven? Do all our loved ones go to heaven?
Later in Matthew 7:21, Jesus expands on this teaching with: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. My objective isn’t to tell everyone they’re wrong about their loved ones’ life after death, but to highlight that we must remain faithful to praying for their salvation.
No matter how things look on the outside, we cannot know what’s in a person’s heart. It is our duty to pray for them and for the peaceful repose of their souls.
Part of the beauty of Catholicism is our belief that prayer helps across time and space because God is not limited in the way we are. Similar to how the Eucharist makes present Christ’s one sacrifice for us here and now, we can trust that God, in His providence, applies our prayers in the way each soul most needs.
Let this be a gentle reminder to set aside 30 seconds today to pray for those who have died, using the words given to the children by Our Lady of Fatima: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.”
If you are up for a challenge, do an extra Rosary for all souls in heaven’s hospital (purgatory).
In peace,
~Juan
