All Souls' Day
- Part 2 -

Ts Matthew Holyson Monsang *

They are like God for ever for "they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads." (Revelation 22:4) To live in heaven is "to be with Christ". "To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna that no one knows except the one who receives it." (Revelation 2:17)

By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has "opened" heaven to us. The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ. He makes partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will. Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.

"And if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ – if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." (Romans 8:17) In the glory of heaven the blessed continue joyfully to fulfill God's will in relation to other men and to all creation. Already they reign with Christ, with him "they shall reign for ever and ever. (cf. Revelation 22:5)

The Final Purification Or Purgatory

Our beloved brothers and Sisters, who had died in God's grace and friendship, are believed to be imperfect and purified for their assurance of salvation. So, it is the duty of the living faithful to intercede for them for their purification in order to achieve the holiness to enter into the joy of heaven. The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.

The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to the Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire. "So that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:7) As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire.

"Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come". (Matthew 12:31, 32) From this sentence we understand that certain offences can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

Hell

The consequence of sin is dead. Thereby, the reward for sin is eternal punishment. It is impossible to say I love God when we sin gravely against him, against our neighbour and ourselves. Hell is a place where furnace and fire prevail. Hell does not belong for the children of God. It is a place for those unrepentant souls. In the Scripture Jesus said, "For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners". (Matthew 9:13)

This verse encourages our faith and God predestines no one to go to hell. For this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. "The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

The Last Judgment

Both the just and the unjust will precede the Last Judgment. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus obviously notify the Last Judgment. He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. The good sheep to the resurrection of life whereas the evil goats to the resurrection of judgment.

There is no way of avoidance of the Last Judgment. The Last thought of judgment is a warning for conversion. God is still giving the unjust the acceptable time for the attainment of eternal life. So, every unjust has the time to give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, cloth the naked, care the sick and visit the prisoner.

The Hope Of The New Heaven And The New Earth

The New Heaven and the New Earth is the place where no suffering, no pain and death shall conquer. It is a place where righteous dwells. (cf. Revelation 21:1-4, 2 Peter 3:13) It is also a place where we will spend eternity. The holy church will receive her perfection only in the glory of heaven.

At that time, together with the human race, the universe itself, which is so closely related to man and which attains its destiny through him, will be perfectly re-established in Christ. Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform humanity and the world, "new heavens and a new earth." (cf. Revelation 21:1) It will be the definite realization of God's plan to bring under a single head "all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth" (cf. Ephesians 1:10)

Those who die in God's grace and friendship imperfectly purified, although they are assured of their eternal salvation, undergo a purification after death, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of God.

Concluded...