Eternal Death Or Eternal Life?

[ 7 minute read ]

We are faced with a profound decision, one that could make for ultimate joy or everlasting sorrow.

Jesus through His Church provides us with the power to hope as we confront the truth of existence and eternity. Many, of course, do not believe in an afterlife, or they wax poetic in ignorance or hold to some kind of universalist fantasy that all people, regardless of religion or creed or lack thereof, will be welcomed into a blissful post-death experience. Others are resigned to the possibility of oblivion. Others simply do not care about the subject and carry on with their material pursuits that afford them fleeting confidence in this life. In the last category, there are those who consider themselves atheists.

We can choose life, or we can choose death. Some say that life is a mix of things and protest in defence of (their) greyness. Only a simpleton would deny that life has its ups and downs, but those ups and downs should not prevent us from choosing the good and avoiding evil, through thick and thin. If we surrender to evil, we can be certain we will scorch what remains of charity in our hearts, resulting in us becoming indifferent at best to any attempts to entice us towards humanity, and at worst make us monsters in the pursuit of power, wealth, fame, control, etc., to the exclusion of our own humanity and the humanity of others. "But who is so evil?" the naive person may ask. Take a look around. As societies choose socialism and other -isms over Christianity, we are witnessing a predictable descent into chaos.

It is understandable that people of faith want their loved ones to live on for all eternity. What loving parent would not care for, instruct, and protect their child in the hope that their child will grow into a respectable adult and be able to have as good a life as or better than his or her parents? A good parent may not be a perfect parent, but they know that the eternal welfare of their child is a concern that rightly monopolizes a parent's heart. A parent might not fully know what it is that motivates their love for their child. They know, however, when they let their child down. An adult child is, however, his own person.

Tragically, children and young people are too commonly abused, trafficked and killed by adults who considered the unborn and children a burden, an inconvenience, a distraction or a hindrance to their enjoyment of life, or that a child is merely a means to achieving approval, profit and power. To intentionally place a child in harm's way for profit is unconscionable. An adult who intentionally harms a child through neglect and/or abuse has become a horrifying creature.

The ability to reduce another person to a commodity or to a toy or to a possession is the essence of a heart ruled by evil. Demons, when they possess someone, turn that person into a play thing. Demons hate human beings, and they prowl the world for the ruin of souls. Those who cooperate with evil risk the loss of their souls. A heart dominated by obstinate sin can fossilize and die in this life. Only God knows for certain how far gone a person has become, but it is not impossible for us men to imagine the fate of one so enamoured in sin that the visible trajectory points to one end and one end only.

The Didache

And the way of death is this: First of all it is evil and full of curse: murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rapines, false witnessings, hypocrisies, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, overconfidence, loftiness, boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving to good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities, pursuing requital, not pitying a poor man, not labouring for the afflicted, not knowing Him that made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork of God, turning away from him that is in want, afflicting him that is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. Be delivered, children, from all these. - Catholic Encyclopedia

Many will be held accountable for causing the innocent to suffer. Many will be held accountable for standing idly by when they could have intervened to prevent or alleviate suffering.

Eternal death signifies a state of separation from God, chosen by the individual, and is a direct consequence of one's moral choices and relationship with divine grace during their earthly existence.

Eternal death, often understood in the context of Catholic teaching, refers to the state of definitive separation from God, which is commonly associated with hell. This concept is rooted in the belief that dying in a state of mortal sin, without repentance, results in a permanent exclusion from communion with God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that this state is a consequence of one's free choice, emphasizing that God desires the salvation of all His creations, and it is ultimately the individual who chooses to separate themselves from His love 1.

The Church teaches that death is not merely the end of earthly life but a critical moment that determines one's eternal destiny. After death, each soul undergoes immediate judgment, which can lead to eternal life with God or eternal separation from Him, depending on the individual's faith and actions during their earthly life 2. This understanding is reinforced by the notion that death entered the world as a consequence of sin, which is seen as the last enemy to be conquered 3.

Furthermore, the Church emphasizes the importance of living a life in accordance with God's grace, as this prepares individuals to face death with hope and serenity. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to this belief, providing assurance of life after death and the promise of eternal communion with God for those who remain faithful 4,5.

References

1. General Audience of 28 July 1999 3
2. CCC 1021
3. CCC 1008
4. General Audience of 27 November 2013 2
5. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines 249

If one hopes to escape the trap of evil and death, i.e., if one has ears to hear, then the Gospel has something to say to you. Jesus, Who is alive and present to us, invites us "into a transformative experience of love and grace."

Eternal life, in Catholic teaching, is understood as the ultimate fulfillment of human existence, characterized by a profound communion with God. This concept is central to the Christian faith, emphasizing that eternal life is not merely a continuation of existence but a participation in the divine life of God Himself. The Catechism of the Catholic Church articulates that eternal life is a gift from God, made accessible through grace, and is intimately linked to knowing God and Jesus Christ 1,2.

Pope John Paul II elaborates on this in his writings, stating that eternal life is the life of God and the life of His children, filled with wonder and gratitude for the divine love bestowed upon humanity 3,4. He emphasizes that this life begins in the present, as believers are called to live authentically and in communion with God, which prepares them for the fullness of eternal life 5,6.

The Gospel of John encapsulates this teaching, particularly in John 17:3, where Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent 7, 2. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but involves a deep relational aspect, inviting believers into a transformative experience of love and grace.

Moreover, the Church teaches that eternal life is a state of perfect happiness and fulfillment, contrasting with the concept of eternal death, which signifies separation from God due to sin8. The promise of eternal life instills hope in believers, encouraging them to live in a way that reflects their faith and prepares them for the life to come 9,6.

In Catholic doctrine eternal life is a profound and transformative experience of communion with God, beginning in this life and culminating in the fullness of joy and love in the life to come.

References

1. CCC 1050
2. Evangelium Vitae 37
3. Evangelium Vitae 38
4. General Audience of 7 June 2000 5
5. 1st April 2010: Mass of the Lord's Supper
6. General Audience of 2 November 2011: Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
7. General Audience of 28 October 1998 1
8. Catechism of the Council of Trent The Creed - Article 12
9. 15 August 2010: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass at the Parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo 15 August 2010: Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin