https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032025.cfm
My brother visited me recently. During our visit, he asked me, “Do you preach about hell?”
The first thing that comes to mind is that we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. “Blessed are those who hope in the Lord.”
So I answered this ways, “I’d rather preach about a God who loves me. I want to tell others about a God of mercy and grace. I’d rather preach about my God who loved me so much his sent his only begotten son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of the whole world.”
“I’d rather tell the world we are all made in the image and likeness of God. In want to tell everyone I meet - God loves us. He loves each and every one of us. Every person no matter what they look like, no matter what they believe, no matter what they do, no matter if they are rich or poor, smart or not so smart. Each one off us has the dignity that comes from being made in the image and likeness of God.”
My brother insisted, “But do you preach about hell?” He goes on “I see all these preachers on TV preaching ‘I’m good, your good, so, all is good. And, If you send money to my ministry God will be good to you.’”
I said, “Yes I preach about hell. Hell is very real.”
That is when I should have told him he needs to go to mass more instead of watching those preachers on TV. Hopefully, he will not hear a priest or a deacon preach such a worldly and untrue message.
Instead, he would probably hear that God’s mercy towards us is closely linked to our mercy towards our neighbor; when our mercy towards others is lacking, God’s mercy cannot enter our hearts.
That is what today’s scriptures are about.
They remind us that trusting in the Lord and following His Law and commandments are far more important and crucial than the ways of the world.
Today’s scripture tells us to be careful of the temptations of the world which may lead us astray. Like the rich man in today’s gospel. He is not described as bad or a non believer. His sin was being only concerned with self, comfort, pleasure, and his own good found in the things of the world.
“Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD.”
“I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.”
Our deeds must not be focused the comforts, pleasures and all the good things in this world for our self satisfaction. That can lead us into destruction.
Instead, we should be good role models of our faith. We should bring others to God by our love, charity, and hope. We should share the goodness of God’s grace with everyone around us.
Love for God is respecting the dignity of all persons who are made in the image of God. Our love for God is expressed in the way we bring hope to others.
We are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. Blessed are those who hope in the Lord. I preach about hope in a God who loves me. Hope is found in God’s mercy and grace.
But today, I warn you about hell. It is real. Hell is something we should fear.
Our road to hell begins when we put all the worldly things before God like the rich man. The rich man pleads “Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.”
But my God wants us all to bring the good news of hope in God who loves us so much he sent his only begotten son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and those of the whole world.
Amen
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