Thursday, July 12, 2007

Time of Recollection

Remedies against sin, part 4.


Penances of Hell are horrible: " It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10:31).
First penance: "Depart from me" (Matt 25:41) -
Rejection by God to whom our soul feels strong inclination is the worst punishment imaginable. God created us for Himself and our hearts cannot find peace until united with the Creator. Can we imagine suffering like this?
Second penance: "you cursed" (Matt 25:41). Can we imagine being cursed by Him who is our Father and always wanted to be, who deserves the most to be loved.
Third penance: "into everlasting fire" (Matt 25:41). The penances are from Him who always wanted the best for us, sustains, supports and helps us with His grace. But He warned us: "For every one shall be salted with fire" (Mark 9:47).
Fourth penance: "into everlasting fire!" (Mt 25:41). Let us imagine being eternally rejected, cursed and punished by God. Who can comprehend it?
The only remedy is immediate abandonment of any path leading to Hell. But what are these pathways?
First path to Hell is hatred of God. Whoever hates God is like the devil and remains his prey: "and they that glory in evil things, grow old in evil." (Ecclesiasticus 11:16)
Second path to Hell is unrepentant mortal sinning. God is merciful and forbearing for our weaknesses. However, unrepentant sinners who actually enjoy sinful ways will have to repay: "the days of repaying are come: .. for the multitude of thy iniquity" (Osee 9:7).
Third path is recklessness. At the beginning, small errors and infidelities are ignored and passion develops securely. When this happens, repentance becomes extremely difficult: "he that is unjust in that which is little, is unjust also in that which is greater". (Luke 16:10). Therefore, let us imagine we are on Mount Calvary in the presence of our crucified and dying Lord, and let us humbly beg His forgiveness!