Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
(Ephesians 6:1-9;
Luke 13:22-30)
Today’s
gospel challenges Christians who think that hell in uninhabited. They reason that God, who is all-loving,
would not damn anyone. Yet Jesus makes clear here, as in other places, that
hell has many occupants.
Yet Jesus
does not intend to discourage people from striving for eternal life. He insists that many will come from the four
corners of the earth to share at the heavenly table. And he would never underestimate the Father’s
mercy. He would allow that those who try
to live virtuously but fail in significant ways may be judged with leniency.
Presumption
takes God’s mercy for granted. It would
permit different kinds of erroneous behavior saying that God would never condemn
one for it. It is an adolescent way of
thinking. We should realize that God has created us with freedom so that we may
take responsibility for our behavior.
