Purgatory

[A10Pilot]

Does belief in Purgatory go against Matthew 20: 1-16, the parable of the landowner? The moral of the parable, as I understand it, is that it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to find God. The point is that you found Him, and as such, He will bestow upon you all the gifts of Heaven. Purgatory, on the other hand, seems to me a punishment for those who were late to the game, as it were, which doesn’t fit with the story of the landowner. Am I misunderstanding the parable, Purgatory, or both?

 

[Scoobyshme]

Does belief in Purgatory go against Matthew 20: 1-16, the parable of the landowner? The moral of the parable, as I understand it, is that it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to find God. The point is that you found Him, and as such, He will bestow upon you all the gifts of Heaven. Purgatory, on the other hand, seems to me a punishment for those who were late to the game, as it were, which doesn’t fit with the story of the landowner. Am I misunderstanding the parable, Purgatory, or both?

I think you may be misunderstanding Purgatory. Purgatory is just getting the books square, so to speak.

When we sin, we are due, at that time, some temporal punishment. When we go to Confession, provided we are truly sorry for our sins and have a firm purpose of amendment, we are forgiven our sins. But we still owe the temporal punishment. Whatever penance the priest gives you in Confession mitigates your temporal punishment, but may not completely settle the “debt.” Purgatory does this for you. Remember, the Bible says that we must be perfectly pure to get into heaven. This means, among other things, that we have no temporal punishment due us. Through God’s infinite mercy, we can go to Purgatory to settle all our debts of temporal punishment. Keep in mind that all who go to Purgatory eventually go to heaven, without exception.

God is both infinitely merciful, and infinitely just. Both are an integral part of truth.

 

[TimothyH]

I’m not so sure that the Church defines purgatory in terms of paying a debt. It is certainly not transactional. I personally don’t see purgatory as punishment.

The word Purgatory comes from the root purge which means to rid, cleans or purify from whatever is undesireable, unwanted or impure.

Purgatory is the function of a merciful father - God - who wishes that we spend eternity with him. As an all perfect being however, nothing imperfect can stand in the presence of God. We who die in a state of grace, those who’s sins have not broken the covenant, can go to heaven. But the reality is that we are as yet imperfect. We still have much self love, which is the root of all sins. Purgatory is how/where those who die in God’s grace yet still possess much self love, can be purified of that self love so that we can stand in God’s presence.

My view of Purgatory is that of purification, not punishment. Those who go to Purgatory are going to heaven. We must never forgat that. Salvation is assured for those in Purgatory.

-Tim-

 

[BertBlyleven]

Really the concept of Purgatory comes from the believe in the second coming and resurrection of the dead. This is the paradise we really are looking forward to. Until then though, where are we? Are we in heaven with God (we call those that are “Saints”)? Are we in some kind of limbo? Does time actually pass from when we die and are resurrected?

Purgatory, as I know it, is this intermediate period which prevents me from getting to heaven immediately (since we believe this is possible), possibly until the second coming. And the only reason this could be the case is from my rejecting of God in some way while accepting His grace and salvation.

 

[dconklin]

As I understand it, Purgatory is more for the people who have been in the game longer. More is expected from them and thus they may need more purification.

 

[Shin]

Does belief in Purgatory go against Matthew 20: 1-16, the parable of the landowner? The moral of the parable, as I understand it, is that it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to find God. The point is that you found Him, and as such, He will bestow upon you all the gifts of Heaven. Purgatory, on the other hand, seems to me a punishment for those who were late to the game, as it were, which doesn’t fit with the story of the landowner. Am I misunderstanding the parable, Purgatory, or both?

I read in a scriptural commentary that the parable is about everyone in the end receiving the gift of Heaven. Some come early, some late, but Heaven ultimately and finally.

God distributes his gifts as He pleases. We cannot quibble about some receiving one thing, another more or less. At all. In Heaven some are lower, some are higher, some experience the love of God more greatly, some less. So the parable is about the gift of Heaven in and of itself, not other matters relating to it.