STOP-OVER

Ave Maria:)

Last day of a long week-end,and it's Holy Souls Day.

I guess we don't pay much attention to this feast.. yes we do take note that "Hey, Nov.1 is the special feast for 

ALL SAINTS (Church Triumphant)-all canonized and non-canonized but saints nonetheless) ..and then the ff. day is set aside by Mother Church for 

the Holy Souls (Church Suffering).."

 Perhaps some would be tempted to exclaim... "Geez.. you Catholics make it so complicated... why not just simplify things and say that everyone who did good are automatic in heaven... and the rest are still journeying on earth.?

............. and why.....

Why divide your 'universal' church into 3 categories: Triumphant , Suffering and Militant (the last one being the category we belong to, those of us still alive and trying best to live our life for the Lord)?

How could you ever believe in a Purgatory... the concept is downright unfair...Complicated... Complicated Catholics.....!"  

But what would our answer as Catholics be? "Oh dear brother/sister...the Church didnot complicate our salvation.... rather ..Mother Church stresses all the more how priceless is this free gift of salvation that God gives us thru His Son JESUS CHRIST... that it can't be taken lightly.. that precisely because Jesus suffered much and invested His very life that we can be restored to GOD -- that it requires us believers to give our salvation much thought.... much love , gratitude ... and to always humbly approach GOD as we claim this salvation in JESUS.

Do we have a mental block with this Purgatory ? -- the state or place where those who have died and are not fully cleansed nor prepared to meet GOD stay -- do we resist this teaching..? do we think it is so unfair that there is such a place...Is GOD cruel..? is Jesus not faithful to us : "that all who believe in Him, will not perish but will have eternal life"......... Why can't Jesus, being All-powerful..simply put all those who believe in Him in heaven.... isn't faith all that matters?

  

Why a possible stop-over in purgatory? I don't buy it.

My brothers and sisters with the above violent reaction.. perhaps the better reaction is:"THANK GOD , THERE'S PURGATORY."

It is yet another concrete expression..that God will use all possible avenues so that we can make a safe return to Him.

think.... where will we put souls who have not heard the gospel , they didnot become criminals..but they have had their share of committing cruelties ,of hurting their neighbor... of disobeying God countless times.

...where do we put soldiers who died instantly, without benefit of spiritual preparation/holy confession-- those  who obediently fight wars for their country.. they could be Christian, yes ... there is a basic faith, yes..but they didnot have time to cultivate this faith and grow in the knowledge /faith and love for Jesus...

 We can't just say arrogantly :"Well I was baptized Christian..a Catholic..so I guess I'm qualified for eternal life with GOD, the angels and saints...?"

how about those who died during calamities, accidents..victims of crimes ... this is the virtual  "death comes like a thief in the night" ..these souls may or may not have lived a life obedient to Christ's teachings... 

We can count people of other faiths/religions... Buddhists, Moslems.. who might have lived lives so patterned after Jesus.. what would be their place in God's Plan? surely the Lord has a plan for them too... 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

 He is Perfect Love..Perfect Wisdom.

the list goes on and on... we are faced with cases of people who are not perfectly good/holy... as with people not outright bad and evil....

the in-betweens if you wish to describe it

Purgatory then expresses God's love and holy justice..His mercy too.

Purgatory may not be enjoyable..but those who are there would not give up their place in Purgatory just to return to earth - No way they'd  do that ..because one who is in Purgatory is already assured of His place in Heaven.... It really is just a place where one waits..and humbly prepares to meet GOD.Think of it as the Ultimate Beauty Parlor 

Twas the Beatitudes gospel yesterday ..and a line there goes "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see GOD...... " Matthew 5:8

Stains of our sins... unrepented/unacknowleged sins... unforgiveness, lust, pride...dishonesty in all its forms.. materialism.. selfishness ..other sinful bondages..these donot disappear in the twinkling of an eye..we donot just attend one spritual retreat... or a year of formation..on a number of masses..or count our service and heave with relief, waive our badge 

and say : "YEP, solve na ako... I made it...heaven here I come, tra-la-la ..." 

It takes humility and prudence to await God's actual verdict.

Must we be afraid? Is our faith then totally useless, pointless?

Oh no... our faith in Christ's redeeming love makes us expect that as we recieve grace upon grace upon grace..that we are being transformed -- that inspite of ourselves, our unfaithfulness, our fears... our imperfect "yes" to God's Will..that still Jesus hears our prayers , sends the Holy Spirit Who in turn helps us grow in holiness.thank You Lord.the impossible becomes possible, Yes!

If we have run the race well..if as St. Paul, we have fought the good fight of faith.. we can be sure that when our eyes close on earth..we will wake up with St. Peter welcoming us and giving us a Tour of Heaven.. oh boy..this is literally To-Die -for 

  but if we have some unsettled business.. like some enemies we just cannot find the heart to forgive... sticky, sticky deeply entrenched pride... etc..etc...  then let's pray that we be given a make-over in Purgatory...earnestly desiring to present ourself pure and holy beofre our Maker... surely that is better than living our earthly life all over again.?

Earthly Life might be a blast for many.. but the joys we taste here are incomparable to the joys that await us in heaven.

Meanwhile we are the Church Militant.. and we are on active duty.. let's not waste time, shall we...? let's heed our marching orders from no less than the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords..Christ Jesus , Hallelujah to the Lamb!

Hope to post some pictures of our ALL Saints Day celeb.. twas really sweet and meaningful as those who made it were able to have a deeper understanding of the Beatitudes, Matthew 5... be blest ..be blest.. Jesus is so near love, te mye