Hell is a choice. As St. Augustine famously pointed out, God created us without our consent, but he will not save us without our consent.
Hell
Lazarus and the Rich Man, Heaven and Hell
The parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man reminds us that hell is a real danger. If we reject helping those in need, we might find ourselves permanently residing in the netherworld, pleading for a drop of water to cool our tongue.
Hell is as Close as One Mortal Sin
Landing on the wrong side of the great chasm for all eternity is as close as dying in a state of mortal sin. Jesus’ parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man teaches this important truth: every person faces at the end of his earthly life the possibility of an eternal, unchangeable destiny. Salvation or damnation. One is good. The other terrifyingly bad.
Sin: The Sly Destroyer of Souls
The readings of today’s liturgy emphasize one simple truth of our Catholic faith: sin damages us and others. It has serious long-term consequences—even those of an unending, eternal duration. Sin can lead to that terrifying reality we call hell.
Heaven and The Narrow Gate
People today often think that getting to heaven is easy. All you have to do is be a “nice” person. We dabble in sin regularly, even nearly constantly, telling ourselves “it’s no big deal. God is merciful.”