Paschal mystery/Free will

Q I have heard the term “Paschal Mystery.”  What does that mean?

A The paschal mystery is an important part of our Catholic faith, so much so that we declare it every Sunday during Mass when we recite the Nicene Creed.  There are four parts of the Paschal Mystery:

Jesus’ Passion

His death

His resurrection 

His ascension into heaven

In the Nicene Creed we pray:

“For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate” (Jesus’ Passion),

“He suffered death and was buried” (his death),

“and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (his resurrection),

“He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father” (his ascension into heaven).

Our Catholic faith has many mysteries that God has revealed to us.  The paschal mystery reveals to us that “by dying he destroyed our death, rising he restored our life.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “God’s saving plan was accomplished ‘once for all’ by the redemptive death of his son Jesus Christ” (CCC 571). 

Because there are four distinct parts of this paschal mystery, the church gives us a lot of time to experience it, to “bask in the moment,” about 50 days from the beginning of Jesus’ Passion to his ascension into heaven.  During that time, Our Lord prepared his followers and now he prepares us, to share in this mystery by proclaiming it, sharing it and celebrating it. Lent is a perfect time to prepare for and contemplate this mystery.    

Q How can a loving and caring God send someone to hell for all eternity?

A First, let’s get this straight.  God does not want anyone to go to hell. He “wills everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4).  But he has given us all free will.  We can either love or not love him; we can either serve or not serve him; we can embrace him or turn our back to him.  It is our choice.  He will not force us to do anything against our will.  In reality, by choosing to reject his love and forgiveness by remaining in the state of mortal sin, one condemns oneself to hell.  God respects our choice.  What kind of a just God would he be if he rejected our choice and granted the kingdom of heaven to all, even to those who rejected him?  Eternal damnation “is not attributed to God’s initiative because in his merciful love he can only desire the salvation of the beings he created” (St. John Paul II, General Audience, July 28, 1999).   

At the end of our life, our choice becomes definitive.  We cannot change our mind after death.  But, as long as we are alive, we can change our mind and seek God’s forgiveness, and he will grant it to us.  All we need to do is be sorry for our sins and celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation.  The Catechism states, “There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest.  Christ who died for all men desires that in his church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin” (CCC 982).

Deacon Hooper is a deacon assistant at Immaculate Conception Church in Denham Springs. He can be reached at ghooper@diobr.org.