We discussed in our Catholicism study about Purgatory and Indulgence. It is described as a temporary state of purification. Who will go to purgatory? Those who died without being fully sanctified or purified as taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1030) The speaker said it is better to let our life here on earth be our purgatory rather than wait for our life in the next. Life is so temporary, a journey and we are just transients of this world. All who died in God's grace but not totally purified must enter purgatory. Only saints go to heaven. It is stated in the bible in Rev. 21:27 that nothing impure can enter heaven nor anyone who does shameful things or tell lies; Mt. 5:48 ...You must be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect & Heb. 12:14 ...Try to be at peace with everyone and try to live a holy life because no one will see the Lord without it. We must be "made righteous" not just "declared righteous".
2 Corinthians 3:4-11
...For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. 10 Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious...
We must be cleansed of impurities, stains of our sins, must be sanctified and not be like white washed tombs. Sins are offenses against a person, society and God. They vary in their degree. Here are the impurities that must be cleansed:
1. Venial sins that have not been forgiven (CCC 1472;1862) 2. Mortal sins (CCC 1857-1859) (1 Jn. 5:16-17) a violation of the 10 commandments, serious in nature, full knowledge, deliberate consent and voluntary. Sins that lead to death. God knows our heart, to whom much is given more is expected. No one is deemed ignorant in the conscience of the Law. There are 2 types of ignorance: a) Vincible ignorance is something that a person can overcome since it is our responsibility to know more about our God. If we did not act on the good thing that we have access or within our means then we can not be excused from it. b) Invincible ignorance - something you can not overcome. Example: pagans who are in unreachable places. Basic goodness is inculcated by God in every person. Our conscience dictates us to worship our Creator.
2.Sins that have not been fully atoned for. We must repair the consequences of our sins. We should fully pay for it. In Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus said, "Listen Sir, I'll give 1/2 of my possessions to the poor and if I have cheated anyone, I'll pay him back 4x as much." The consequences of sin are guilt and punishment due to sin (CCC 1473) and also in 2 Samuel 11-12 when David repented of his grievous sins of adultery and murder but also suffered its consequences.
Here are some objections on Purgatory:
1. It adds to the finished work of Christ.
Atty. Moya the speaker explained that the death and suffering of Jesus on the cross was already enough and doesn't need to add anything more to it but compared it to a cleansing formula or soap made available to all where we can draw from the same saving grace of God that can cleanse us all.
2. It is inconsistent with a loving, merciful God.
We should think of purgatory as a means that God gives us so that not just a few but many can enter the Kingdom of Heaven
3. It is a 2nd chance after death. We know this is not true since once we died then that's the end of it but purgatory serves as a cleansing state although we died in the grace of God some impurities and stains are still not totally purified and cleansed. An example cited here is stealing a $100 and asking forgiveness but there is still a need to return what was stolen.
4. No biblical basis. The following bible passages help explain the existence of purgatory. (1 Cor 3:11-15; 2 Mac 12:42-46; Mt. 18:34 (Parable of the Unforgiving Servant) "Pay up for whatever he owe until he paid the last penny" )
Indulgences are what we gain for our own purification and for the purification of the souls in purgatory (CCC 1471) It helps us in our spiritual life and promotes charity. It was recommended that we make a conscious effort to always offer our good works and prayers to have the intention to gain indulgences. There are 2 kinds: Plenary and partial. In order to benefit from it then we must be in state of grace, go to confession and receive Holy Communion. Biblical basis is Mt. 16:19 (CCC 1478) Keys of heaven entrusted to the head of the Church which allows to permit or prohibit on earth and in heaven. It spurs us to always be in the grace of God.
Psalm 99:5. 6. 7. 8. 9
R: Holy is the Lord our God.
5 Extol the LORD, our God, and worship at his footstool; holy is he! (R) 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;..From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them; they heard his decrees and the law he gave them. (R) 8 O LORD, our God, you answered them; a forgiving God you were to them, though requiting their misdeeds...
Jesus is very clear in today’s gospel that He has come not to abolish but to fulfill the law. He comes in obedience to the Father and lives it perfectly. We fall into this vicious cycle of believing in Jesus and still continue to sin. He did not come to overturn but to fulfill the law. We are to avoid sin and do good. We trust ourselves to the mercy of God. Though, we still grow as we struggle with sin. We must humble and renew ourselves in charity. Now is the time for conversion of our life to goodness. We should assess ourselves. Are we become holier as we struggle against sins? Are we moving away from sins of our predominant fall? What sins do we usually repeat in our confession? Are we struggling and fighting against it? What do our friends and families remind us of? How do we worship? How is our moral life? Is it lived in the whole pillar dedicated to the commandments? Our personal sin is the enemy that we’re fighting. Our pitfall is that we’re trying to change the external all the time. The other people around us and the situation instead of looking at the battle we have to find in ourselves. The usual loophole is our covetousness towards our neighbor’s goods. It comes up in different forms, these desires that is not in harmony with reason. It is the concupiscence and lust of the flesh. Lust is a huge epidemic and problem to live the 6th & 9th commandment. We need help and God’s grace. We need chastity and must appeal to Him for that grace. We should avoid near occasions that cause us to sin. It’s in the heart so we have to make the radical approach not to let it enter our heart. We need to work on the purity of heart in order to see God face to face when our time comes. We are called to be like Him and see our brothers and sisters as children of God. We also have to fight our desires to have more and more. The more we have the more secured we are. There is this deep tendency in us to place our security in things and people. We are always confronted with the temptation to do predominant work in our life and pull us away from God. It scatters our energies and focus to do something to build up our esteem, pride and ego. We tend to desire to control others, call the shots and not to submit to God. We need to seek His direction and His will. It should be the trajectory of our life, to prefer God over everything else. When we lack security then we should cling to God. Whatever sin it is that defeat us, we should make a firm and conscious effort to get out of our selfishness, go to others, fight sin and appeal to God for grace. Today's gospel holds the key to excel and be great in the kingdom of heaven. Let us not have second thoughts or falter when it comes to deciding for the Lord. Whatever it is we decide to do, let us make sure that God is always our main reason. In doing so, we can be sure that we are not taking the wrong side and are clearly not supporting the cause of the evil one. It is very sad that nowadays people no longer give much care about this. We sometimes fall into the trap of complacency and tend to conform to the alluring and tempting materialism that this world offers. We always set God aside and place Him in a corner treating Him like a nobody. We always end up calling the shots while we continue to ignore and take for granted what should clearly be taken first place and seriously. Jesus came not to destroy but to fulfill the law of the prophets. He came that we may life and have it abundantly. We have to exceed the letter of the law and know that the Spirit of the law gives life and understand it better. St. Augustine said, "Love and obey God then do what you will." We must be united to the will of God to the best of our abilities in order to always be aligned to His will. Amen. Hallelujah!
Matthew 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
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