Pastoral answers to life's questions
Week#173: What do you believe happens to a person after they die? Do they go to some sort of reward or punishment? Are they reincarnated? (Due 8 a.m. Monday, April
25. Prints April 30.)
All of us of the Christian faith believe fervently in eternal afterlife. The promises of Jesus are all the evidence we need that for every one of us, death is not the end, only the beginning. However, there has always been speculation about the exact nature of that afterlife, with propositions and suppositions concerning heaven, hell and purgatory. It is my personal opinion that God somehow finds a way into every human heart and mind and ‘makes us an offer of love that we just can’t refuse,’ so to speak. Purgation may come from our realization of how wrong-headed we may have been, and, in the overpowering warmth of God’s love, our repentance would be instantaneous. Perhaps we are much like the centurion at Calvary who upon seeing Jesus die, confesses to all around him “This surely was the Son of God.” Hopefully we are as worthy as the Good Thief.
Deacon Mike Evans
Sacred Heart Church, Anderson