Our 2025 Catechumens and Candidates will be discussing the topic of “Eschatology” this Sunday. What is “eschatology”? Eschatology is defined as “an area of theology relating to such things as death and judgment, heaven and hell; the end of the world.”
Even though we do not know exactly what happens at the end of our life, as Catholics our beliefs come through Scripture, sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium of the Church. We believe that heaven and hell are our only possible eternal destinies; and purgatory is the purification in preparation for heaven. Each of us will have both a personal, called “particular judgment”, that happens when we die; then, at the end of time, a final judgment.
The United States Catechism for Adults states: “Perfect love will make possible entrance into heaven, imperfect love will require purification, and a total lack of love will mean eternal separation from God.”
God gave us the gift of free will. How does this relate to eschatology? This is the freedom to accept or reject His Love. The result or effect of this gift means - we have the choice of our ultimate destiny. When we repent our sins, accept the mercy and love of God, and respond by loving God and others we demonstrate a desire to enter into heaven and be with God. The opposite, a total rejection of God’s love and mercy, will cause eternal separation from God.
Questions discussed during our session include: why do we pray for the dead? Or, what do Catholics believe about the Rapture, the second coming of Christ? And, what do we believe regarding final judgment?
Each November we pray for all souls in purgatory. We have a book on the St. Joseph altar at All Saints where names can be entered so that we can pray for each other’s loved ones.
As we contemplate eschatology and our life in Christ, let us find comfort and hope in our Christian belief that Jesus conquered death through His Resurrection, and grants us eternal life. He promised to come again in final triumph over evil.
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Luke 12:34