Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43
Hell is God’s Headache, but the Holy Spirit is God in You Overcoming Hell
There was a fiery preacher who was preaching on today’s gospel, and the theme of his homily was “Hell Fire!” As he emphasized on the fact that sinners will burn in “Hell,” he explained the ordeals of Hell: you see, he said, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who go to Hell. Right in front of him, on the front pew, an old lady burst out laughing. The preacher stopped momentarily and asked the old lady the cause of her laughter. She responded, pointing at her mouth – Mr. Preacher, she said, the gnashing of teeth in Hell excludes me; see, I have no teeth! The preacher responded: old lady, on that day, teeth will be provided for you!
The story of Hell and the topic of Hell is a very attractive one to those who have enemies, and for homophobics. In fact, I still wonder whether the so-called self-righteous ever feel any obligation towards sinners or bad-guys! When a bomber blows up many people, what is she/he thinking, sending people to Hell or eliminating bad people from the earth? Does he/she really care about himself/herself going to Heaven or was he/she worried about those blown up? Not for once have I heard a jihadist or the self-righteous worry about what happens to those he/she kills, but about his/her own reward: isn’t this the pinnacle of selfishness?
To wish anyone to go to Hell cannot possibly be inspired by the Spirit of God. If God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17), then Hell is not where God wants human beings to be, and Hell is God’s headache! Hell is and remains God’s headache because God keeps strategizing everyday, hour, minute, and second on how to prevent Hell from having any inmates! According to our gospel reading, God sows good seeds on his farmland. More dramatic, God too has an enemy – the enemy of God sows bad seeds on God’s soil and farmland! It is Satan and his followers who want people to go to Hell!
Wow, St. Paul is very correct when he says: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:9-18).
All the weapons we need to fight so that Hell may be empty of inmates, which St. Paul enumerates, it all boils down to the wisdom of God against the wiles of the Devil. According to our first reading today, we need wisdom from God to know how to live upon earth. Human wisdom does not suffice as guidance for survival upon earth, and as remedy for Hell. Human wisdom teaches us how to take care of the body to the neglect of the soul. Worst case scenario, human wisdom teaches us to protect ourselves, even if that means destroying others in the process. Fundamentalists kill sinners because they believe they are the righteous ones. Politicians steal what belongs to the public because they think they have to provide for themselves alone. Priests, religious, and church people spend so much time about their own conversion and salvation, and do not pay enough time and attention to corporate salvation. On account of political correction and peaceful co-existence, people chicken out of correcting evil and sin, when the honest truth is that people want their peace to the detriment of corporate existence. In all these, God teaches us how to live upon earth – “But though you [God] are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you”.
The wisdom of God teaches that the mighty must lift up and not destroy the weak; the rich must share with the poor and not exploit them; the righteous must lift up sinners and not pray for their extermination; judges must tamper justice with mercy, because no one is just before God; that rulers are not above the law, but must keep the law better than the ruled. Indeed, every strength, wealth, justice, peace and progress comes from God and destined to be used for the greater glory of God! What more, the Holy Spirit of God is in us as a guarantee of God’s presence in us!
According to our second reading, the Holy Spirit of God, in you and me, is an intercessor. It is a Spirit that makes right what is wrong and not the destroyer of what is wrong – when our prayers are imperfect, he perfects them for us. When selfishness beclouds our judgement, he intercedes correctly for us before God. Yes, the Holy Spirit corrects what is wrong, perfects what is imperfect, strengthens the weak, enlightens the doubtful, rekindles flickering faith, dynamizes slacked and weary souls, and keeps hope of salvation alive in every human being.
The long and short message for this week, I think, is that Hell is God’s Headache, but the Holy Spirit is God in You and Me Overcoming Hell. Hell is necessary because you and I have abdicated our job of making sure that no one goes there. If Jesus died to bring salvation, the solution to the problem of Hell is for us to imitate Christ by dying to our sins and making atonement for the sins of our brothers and sisters. If the Holy Spirit in you and me spends his time perfecting what is imperfect in us, we owe it to others to keep praying and working for their perfection. If the wisdom of God teaches us that God does not use his might to destroy but to save, we should spend every ounce of our energy working for peace, promoting justice, encouraging unity, and sharing love.
Assignment for the Week:
Compose a short prayer and pray it all week long, that no one goes to Hell! Or, pray the Rosary each day, for the conversion of sinners!
Good one Padre. Self righteousness has placed great division among Christians. It has caused a feeling of superiority especially among us Catholics as though salvation doesn’t require good works. The assignment you have given here is really challenging and appropriate. Thanks