“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” – Matthew 13:43
The existence of hell is proof that God loves us.
Yes, you read that right. In today’s Gospel Jesus describes hell as a rather gruesome place where there will be “wailing and grinding of teeth.” How then could the existence of such a place possibly prove that God loves us?
First, we must recognize that the Church understands hell not as a particular place, but rather as a state of being. Hell is the state of eternal separation from God. Heaven is the state of perfect and eternal union with God.
The entirety of Scripture attests to the fact that God wants us to experience the bliss of being with Him. From the Garden of Eden to the giving of the Ten Commandments, and from the songs of the prophets to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, the Bible shares the story of a God who longs to be with us. Indeed, we believe that he gave His only Son so that such a communion between humanity and Divinity might be possible. Yet, so often, we do not want to be with God.
And God will not force us to be with Him, but rather He gives us the freedom to reject his invitation, because He loves us. Hell is simply God’s way of respecting a person’s desire to be completely and permanently separated from Him. Indeed, this proves His love, because there is no such thing as love without freedom. “Love” without free consent is akin to abuse.
Thus, the “wailing and gnashing of teeth” that Jesus envisioned does not describe the punishment of a ruthless God. Instead, it is the lonely lament and regretful rage of someone who has freely chosen to forgo the eternal joy of God’s grace.
Here’s the good news: God loves you and offers you unsurpassable joy with Him in heaven. All you need to do is choose to follow Him, and you will shine like the sun.
Lord Jesus, thank you for opening the gates of Heaven to us. Soften our hearts to your grace, that we may follow you faithfully all the days of our lives. We ask this through the intercession of your Blessed Mother who teaches us how to welcome you into our lives. Amen.
