Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Luke 10:13-37. Jesus says that it'll be better on judgment day for Tyre and Sidon than for the towns in which He performed miracles and very few repented.
How is that, though? Won't they all go to hell? Isn't that pretty much equal and terrible for all of them? Well, maybe. Dante Alighieri had one thought on the matter. He had levels of hell. Some people were only punished a little, while others were punished horribly, depending on their sins.
Another possibility is that some of the people from Tyre, Sidon, and the towns that Jesus visited would be saved ultimately and go to heaven, but would receive different rewards - those in Tyre and Sidon receiving better rewards than those from the towns Jesus was rebuking.
Or, as Bishop Barron points out and the Catholic church teaches, it's possible that everyone is saved in the end, but some of us get better rewards in heaven than others. As the church puts it, we are permitted to hope and pray that everyone is saved. If you're interested in learning more about the history and theology of this position, watch this video.
Whatever the answer is, we know that we want to be more like Tyre and Sidon than like the towns Jesus rebuked. And we really want to be like neither, but rather follow closely after Jesus and store up our treasure in heaven, so that we enjoy eternity to its fullest.
If you wonder how to do that, ask Him to show you. He will certainly answer that prayer.
God, thanks for teaching us about the things to come. Help us follow You closely and receive a better reward in heaven.
No comments:
Post a Comment