We learned in the last meditation that eternal life is a clear teaching from Sacred Scripture. Catholics are encouraged to make others aware of this teaching as they share their faith with others. Our teaching this week focuses on the subject of God’s wrath as it relates to eternal life. God’s wrath focuses primarily on two areas of human behavior which are ungodliness and unrighteousness.
What is being demonstrated about wrath is
that a life without God, whether it is from a pagan background or
Judaism apart from accepting the Jewish Messiah as being Jesus is one of
despair and alienation from the true God. This position of ungodliness and
unrighteousness will not go unnoticed by God, nor will God not be active in
dealing with this from heaven. Perhaps
there are some who think that if God is in heaven He is not
fully aware of or responsive to in man’s business.
Although there is special advantage to being a Jew and not a pagan, no
one is innocent; and according to Sacred Scripture, “Since all
have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God, they are justified by his
grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (
The point being emphasized is that while
salvation is a free gift of God given to mankind by the death and resurrection
of Jesus this is a gift of God’s grace, it
cannot be circumvented for one’s own personal pathway to
righteousness or heaven, nor can one make up one’s own idols or deny that God exists and find
one’s peace and contentment in eternal life. The
truth is that there is eternal life after what we know to be life on this
planet is ended. He
has set the rules on how we prepare for our eternal life and how we will spend
it. One cannot make up one’s own
rules as to where one will spend
eternal life.
God has given man a free will and this free will can assist one in
experiencing God’s grace and peace or His wrath and vengeance.
What we are left with is the choice to choose Him instead of our own
self made existence. The wrath of God is against all form of
human sin. We could live better lives if we would follow His wisdom instead of
our own. As oratorians, let us prayerfully ask God for His wisdom and guidance
throughout the course of this week.
No man can get such wisdom of himself in time to begin living his life or, indeed, in time to end it. Wisdom must be given, for it belongs to God. He can have this wisdom that must be had; but not through the stumbling steps of his own reasoning. He can have it if he will take it from his Maker. He can see in the darkness if he will look through the eyes of God. He can begin life with wisdom lent by God, and have his heart flooded with gratitude for the loan; or he can prefer the false light of the illusion that tells him he is self-sufficient, and die before he begins to live.
Walter Farrell, O.P., S.T.M., Martin J. Healy, S. T. D., My Way of Life, Brooklyn, N.Y., Confraternity OF The Blood Of Jesus, Pgs. 2-3
1. What comes to your mind when you think of God's wrath?
2. What can one do to incur God's wrath?
3. How is God's wrath demonstrated toward His creation?
O Lord Jesus Christ, help us to live out our lives in such a manner as to be pleasing in your sight. Give us the courage to demonstrate Your love in the way we speak and live our lives. May we have the strength to demonstrate to others the extent of Your love and mercy. Help us to be bold and caring enough to be truthful when we speak to others about eternal life and God's grace and wrath toward the ungodly and unrighteous. Amen