SLOTH vs DILIGENCE - Day 4

Two Parables & One Prophecy (Matthew 25)

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴ but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵ As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps.⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. ¹¹ Afterward the other maidens came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹² But he replied, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

¹⁴ “For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; ¹⁵ to one he gave five talents,to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more.¹⁷ So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.¹⁹ Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’

³¹ “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,³³ and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? ³⁸ And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?³⁹ And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ ⁴⁶ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Proof of Purgatory: Biblical, Church Fathers, Others

Dante's envisionment of Purgatory

Jews, Catholics, and the Eastern Orthodox have always historically proclaimed the reality of the final purification. It was not until the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century that anyone denied this doctrine. 

Biblical:

^{Matthew 5:25} “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny...⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 

(Catholics believe that Jesus is the just Judge and 

that the prison refers to Purgatory which will 

"purge" us from all effects of sin even to the last "penny" 

so that we are perfect as our heavenly Father is 

-- as nothing unclean can enter into Heaven. (Rev 21:27) 

^{1 Pet 3:19} In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison: ²⁰ Which had been some time incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in the days of Noe, when the ark was a building: wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water.

(Catholics believe that "prison" refers to Purgatory 

and that the "spirits" were the holy ones who died before Jesus came. 

They were righteous so they couldn't be in Hell, but they couldn't be in Heaven yet either.)

^{1 Cor 3:12-15} If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 

(Catholics believe that "Day" is the particular day of judgement 

and that the sum of person's work will be tested through fire 

before receiving a "reward" which is, entering heaven; 

the person whose works were not of the finest quality

- not perfectly done - will suffer through the flames before entering Heaven.) 

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.  

(Catholics believe that "or the age to come" refers to Purgatory

 - the final opportunity for becoming perfect.)

^{Other verses often used by Catholics in support of Purgatory: 2 Macc 12:38, Matt 12:32, Matt 18:21-35, Matt 22:1-14, Luke 12:58, Luke 16:19-31, 1 Pete 4:6, 1 Cor 15:29, 1 Tim 1:16} 

 

Early Church Fathers:

180-200AD, Epitaph of Abercius:

The citizen of an eminent city, this monument I made whilst still living, that there I might have in time a resting place for my body. My name is Abercius, the disciple of the holy shepherd who feeds his flocks of sheep on the mountains and in the plains, who has great eyes that  see everywhere. This shepherd taught me the Book worthy of belief. It is he who sent me to Rome to behold the royal majesty and to see the queen arrayed in golden vestments and golden sandals. There also I saw the people famous for their seal. And I saw the plains of Syria and all its cities, and also Nisibis when I crossed the Euphrates. Everywhere I met brethren in agreement, having Paul as a companion. Everywhere faith was my guide and everywhere provided as my food the Fish of exceeding great size and pure whom the spotless virgin caught from the spring. And faith ever gives this food to his disciples to eat, having the choicest wine and administering the mixed drink with bread. I, Abercius,  standing by, ordered these words to be inscribed, being in the course of my seventy second year. Let him who understands these words and believes the same pray for Abercius. 

(Why would the early Christians want to be prayed for and offer up sacrifices for the dead 

when those in Heaven have no need for prayer 

and those in Hell can't be helped by prayer? 

Catholics believe that it is so that those in "prison" 

can be helped in paying the "last penny" quicker and be with God sooner. 

For example, those in earthly prisons can't do much for themselves and need others to post bail, etc.,  ) 

208-212 AD Tetrullian, The Soul:  Every soul, therefore, is shut up in Hades? Whether you do or not, it is a fact.  And there are already punishments and rewards there;  and there you have a poor man and rich one( Luke 16:2).  The soul does not perform all its operations with the assistance of the flesh; and divine judgment pursues even simple thoughts and mere desires. "Whoever shall look in lust has already committed adultery in his heart. (Matt 5:28)" Therefore and on this account it is most fitting that the soul, without waiting for the flesh, be punished for what it did without the partnership of the flesh. And for the pious and benevolent thoughts in which it shared not with the flesh, without the flesh it will be refreshed.... In short, if we understand that prison which the Gospel speaks to be Hades, and if we interpret the last farthing (Matt 5:25-26) to be the light offense which is to be expiated there before the resurrection, no one will doubt that the soul undergoes some punishments in Hades, without prejudice to the fullness of the resurrection, after which recompense will be made through the flesh also.  

(Purgatory is often understood as a temporary outer part of Hell 
that will pass away at the end of "time". 
Hell, where the wicked reside, will remain for eternity.)

208-212 AD Tetrullian, The Crown: We offer up sacrifices for the dead on their death anniversaries.  

208-212 AD Tetrullian, Monogamy:  A woman, after the death of her husband, is bound not less firmly but even more so, not to marry another husband... Indeed, she prays for his soul and asks that he may, while waiting, find rest; and that he may share in the first resurrection. And each year, on the anniversary of his death, she offers sacrifice. 

 

304-310 AD, Lactantius, The Divine Institutions: First of all, therefore, we say that the power of God is so great, that He perceives even incorporeal things, and manages them as He will. For even angels fear God, because they can be chastised by Him in some unspeakable manner; and devils dread Him, because they are tormented and punished by Him. What wonder is it, therefore, if souls, though they are immortal, are nevertheless capable of suffering at the hand of God? For since they have nothing solid and tangible in themselves, they can suffer no violence from solid and corporeal beings; but because they live in their spirits only, they are capable of being handled by God alone, whose energy and substance is spiritual. But, however, the sacred writings inform us in what manner the wicked are to undergo punishment. For because they have committed sins in their bodies, they will again be clothed with flesh, that they may make atonement in their bodies; and yet it will not be that flesh with which God clothed man, like this our earthly body, but indestructible, and abiding for ever, that it may be able to hold out against tortures and everlasting fire, the nature of which is different from this fire of ours, which we use for the necessary purposes of life, and which is extinguished unless it be sustained by the fuel of some material. But that divine fire always lives by itself, and flourishes without any nourishment; nor has it any smoke mixed with it, but it is pure and liquid, and fluid, after the manner of water. For it is not urged upwards by any force, as our fire, which the taint of the earthly body, by which it is held, and smoke intermingled, compels to leap forth, and to fly upwards to the nature of heaven, with a tremulous movement. The same divine fire, therefore, with one and the same force and power, will both burn the wicked and will form them again, and will replace as much as it shall consume of their bodies, and will supply itself with eternal nourishment: which the poets transferred to the vulture of Tityus. Thus, without any wasting of bodies, which regain their substance, it will only burn and affect them with a sense of pain. But when He shall have judged the righteous, He will also try them with fire. Then they whose sins shall exceed either in weight or in number, shall be scorched by the fire and burnt: but they whom full justice and maturity of virtue has imbued will not perceive that fire; for they have something of God in themselves which repels and rejects the violence of the flame. So great is the force of innocence, that the flame shrinks from it without doing harm; which has received from God this power, that it burns the wicked, and is under the command of the righteous. Nor, however, let any one imagine that souls are immediately judged after death. For all are detained in one and a common place of confinement, until the arrival of the time in which the great Judge shall make an investigation of their deserts. Then they whose piety shall have been approved of will receive the reward of immortality; but they whose sins and crimes shall have been brought to light will not rise again, but will be hidden in the same darkness with the wicked, being destined to certain punishment.

315-386AD, St Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures: 

Then we commemorate also those who have fallen asleep before us, first Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, that at their prayers and intercessions God would receive our petition(2). Then on behalf also of the Holy Fathers and Bishops who have fallen asleep before us, and in a word of all who in past years have fallen asleep among us, believing that it will be a very great benefit to the souls(3), for whom the supplication is put up, while that holy and most awful sacrifice is set forth.

 And I wish to persuade you by an illustration. For I know that many say, what is a soul profited, which departs from this world either with sins, or without sins, if it be commemorated in the prayer? For if a king were to banish certain who had given him of-fence, and then those who belong to them(4) should weave a crown and offer it to him on behalf of those under punishment, would he not grant a remission of their penalties? In the same way we, when we offer to Him our supplications for those who have fallen asleep, though they be sinners, weave no crown, but offer up Christ sacrificed for our sins(5), propitiating our merciful God for them as well as for ourselves.

Other sources:

Part 1: Proof of Purgatory? Look No Further.

Where is Purgatory in the Bible?

The Bible Teaches Purgatory

The doctrine of Purgatory, central to Christianity, is brutally attacked by certain non-Catholic polemicists.

The Roots of Purgatory (Teachings of Christians from 160AD-421AD)

The Toothpaste Lesson

Whether they admit it or not, everybody is in search for the same thing.  Everybody seeks acknowledgement, appreciation and... love.

I am for making a positive difference in the lives of others.  If I spend my life without leaving people feeling warm and inspired, than my life has little value to those around me; rather my life becomes their cross.  I do not want my presence to leave people feeling anxious, hurt, worthless, or angry.

You may be aware of the school rhyme:"sticks and stones break my bones, but words never hurt me."  I think that this is incredibly false.  Words can be crippling, sometimes even more so than physical abuse.

If your mom was anything like mine, she probably told you that, "if you don't have anything nice to say, then it is better not to say anything at all."  I think that this is wise advise.

I was in Toastmasters (a speaking club) for a few years and learned about how effective words and even tones can be to move your audience to all sorts of emotions  (esp. laughter).  However, relationships have taught me that a grumbling, abrasive or discouraging tones can tear people apart.  The good feelings and intentions of the other can disappear in a single instant.  Unfortunately, these ugly responses and attitudes can also cripple the one speaking.

When I was young, my mom gave me a tube of toothpaste and told me to squeeze out all of the minty paste onto a paper plate. I did this with much enthusiasm.  Then, she told me to put it all back in. Well, this wasn't as fun or as easy as squeezing it out.  It also was very messy. The lesson?  Once hurtful things come out, it is very difficult to repair the damage.  Also, like the tube, the speaker becomes empty and lifeless...

Christ says that, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands." Mark 9:43

In my particular case, the bodily member that I need to lose is my tongue.  I have hurt people with idle and angry words, slander, gossip, grumbling, unkind jokes, etc...  While, I don't think Jesus wants me to literally chop off my tongue, I do think He wants me to completely kill the ugliness in my soul that produces these words, tones and attitudes.