Heaven, Hell, Purgatory

            POPE JOHN PAUL II ON THE AFTERLIFE

 HEAVEN
Divine revelation teaches us that heaven is neither an abstraction nor a physical place in the clouds, but a living and personal relationship of union with the Holy Trinity. Heaven is our definitive meeting with the Father which takes place in the risen Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Although the perfection of heaven will only be experienced after this life, the peace and happiness that it will bring can be anticipated in the sacraments – especially the Eucharist – and in the gift of ourselves in loving service of others. If we are able to enjoy properly the good things that the Lord showers upon us every day of our earthly lives, then we have begun to experience the joy which will be completely ours in the next life. In this world everything is subject to limits, but thoughts of our final and ultimate reality help us to live better the passing reality of each present moment.


HELL
Hell is not a punishment imposed by God, but the conditions resulting from attitudes and actions which people adopt in life. It is the ultimate consequence of sin itself. Scripture uses many images to describe the pain, frustration and emptiness of life without God. More than a physical place, hell is the state of those who freely and definitely separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy. So eternal damnation is not God’s work but is actually our own doing. Christian faith teaches us that there are creatures who have already given a definitive “no” to God; these are the spirits which rebelled against God and whom we call demons. They serve as a warning for human beings: eternal damnation remains a real possibility for us, too. The reality of hell should not, however, be a cause of anxiety or despair for believers. Rather, it is a necessary and healthy reminder that human freedom has to be conformed to the example of Jesus, who always said “yes” to God, who conquered Satan, and who gave us his Spirit so that we could call God “Father”.


PURGATORY
Sacred Scripture teaches us that we must be purified if we are to enter into perfect and complete union with God. Jesus Christ who became the perfect expiation for our sins and took upon himself the punishment that was our due, brings us God’s mercy and love. But before we enter into God’s kingdom, every trace of sin within us must be corrected. This is exactly what takes place in purgatory. Those who live in this state of purification after death are not separated from God but are immersed in the love of Christ. Neither are they separated from the saints in heaven – who already enjoy the fullness of eternal life – nor from us on earth – who continue our pilgrim journey to the Father’s house. We all remain united in the mystical body of Christ, and we can therefore offer up prayers and good works on behalf of our brothers and sisters in purgatory.

THE JOURNEY
The Christian life can be considered as a great pilgrimage to the house of the Father, “whose unconditional love for every human creature ... we discover anew each day”. (“Tertio Millennio Adveniente,” 49). Our present life is already marked by the salvation which Christ has won for us through his death and resurrection. We are journeying toward the full actualization of this salvation, which will take place at the final coming of the Lord.
 As we make this journey, we are called to share in the paschal mystery of the Lord and to live up to the demands of Christ’s offer of redemption. An important part of this is our continual purification and struggle against sin, in the knowledge power of sin and death. In involving ourselves in the realities of this passing world, we must fix our gaze on our final goal, bringing the light of God to bear on all that we do.