What is the meaning?

[Mikeydell]

Several weeks after the attacks of 9-11-01 I was at Mass (my church lost several members of our congregation on that fateful day) when a visiting middle aged priest started his homily with this powerful statement, “There are people from this church who will not be in heaven. And there are people who will be in heaven that are not from this church.”

It has stuck in my heart and my mind all of these years. I would like to hear opinions from others on this forum about what this statement might mean to them.

Much Peace!

Mike

 

[Alberti_Devoveo]

The priest was paraphrasing Matthew 7:21
'It is not anyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.

To me, the line means that I better be doing God’s will if I want to end up in Heaven. Like St Paul, I “work out my salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)

 

[tonyrey]

Several weeks after the attacks of 9-11-01 I was at Mass (my church lost several members of our congregation on that fateful day) when a visiting middle aged priest started his homily with this powerful statement, “There are people from this church who will not be in heaven. And there are people who will be in heaven that are not from this church.”

It has stuck in my heart and my mind all of these years. I would like to hear opinions from others on this forum about what this statement might mean to them.

Much Peace!

Mike

I don’t believe the priest was justified in making such a dogmatic prediction about some of the congregation. It implies he had privileged insight into the future…

 

[Pugsly]

Several weeks after the attacks of 9-11-01 I was at Mass (my church lost several members of our congregation on that fateful day) when a visiting middle aged priest started his homily with this powerful statement, “There are people from this church who will not be in heaven. And there are people who will be in heaven that are not from this church.”

It has stuck in my heart and my mind all of these years. I would like to hear opinions from others on this forum about what this statement might mean to them.

Much Peace!

Mike

If it “stuck in your heart and mind all these years”…then you probably didn’t think the priest was refering to “this church” at a specific address…but, rather, The Catholic Church.

If God made it “stick” then perhaps He wants you to realize that the Church is made up of that lil Hindu boy who never heard of Jesus but communes with Him in his heart…or that Muslim girl who loves God with all her strength…or that Lutheran minister who serves God in so many ways…,…in other words…the Church is the whole Body of believers from past to future, from East to West.

All come to the Father through Jesus…but how is a great mystery to us. Maybe the priest was getting at that aspect of faith.

 

[ChibiViolet]

I don’t believe the priest was justified in making such a dogmatic prediction about some of the congregation. It implies he had privileged insight into the future…

He might and it could have come from God–I mean, for all we know.

 

[ChibiViolet]

If you meant the Catholic Church by “church” than the c should be capitalized.

 

[Regina_Love]

The priest was paraphrasing Matthew 7:21
'It is not anyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.

To me, the line means that I better be doing God’s will if I want to end up in Heaven. Like St Paul, I “work out my salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12)

 

[tabycat]

If we get to Heaven we will be suprised by who did and did not make it there. :nun2:

 

[Regina_Love]

Several weeks after the attacks of 9-11-01 I was at Mass (my church lost several members of our congregation on that fateful day) when a visiting middle aged priest started his homily with this powerful statement, **“There are people from this church who will not be in heaven. And there are people who will be in heaven that are not from this church.” **

It has stuck in my heart and my mind all of these years. I would like to hear opinions from others on this forum about what this statement might mean to them.

Much Peace!

Mike

It is a powerful truth. Not all of us are going to Heaven. It is meant to make you question if YOU are. Or have you fallen asleep at the wheel. We humans get bored easy, and loose focus. We coast along putting almost no effort into our relationship with God. The age old question, “Are you saved?” According to scripture It would include that you;

Be Validly Baptised John 3:5-6 & 22 Acts 2:37-38
Obey the 10 Commandments 1John 2:3-4 Mathew 19:17
care for the sick, elderly, widowed, orphaned Mathew 25:41
Persevere to the end Romans 11:22 Pray & develop a personal relationship with God. Seeking his guidance through the Holy Spirit.
Repent of our sins Rev 2:5
Receive into yourself your Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. John 6:53-58 Jesus said to them, “*Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you…” *Are you saved if you have not life within you?

 

[mountee]

To me he simply meant that merely attending Mass would not get you into heaven.

 

[Walcot]

Once, after hearing the ‘certainties’ (and dare I say, the smugness!) of various religious groups in discussion, I had a thought…what if the ultimate test of whether or not we got into heaven was this:
thinking we’re IN OK, we walk through the gates and the first person we see is Hitler (for the sake of argument)…what is our reaction? Maybe that would be the test…
It’s just a thought…

 

[Mikeydell]

If it “stuck in your heart and mind all these years”…then you probably didn’t think the priest was refering to “this church” at a specific address…but, rather, The Catholic Church.

If God made it “stick” then perhaps He wants you to realize that the Church is made up of that lil Hindu boy who never heard of Jesus but communes with Him in his heart…or that Muslim girl who loves God with all her strength…or that Lutheran minister who serves God in so many ways…,…in other words…the Church is the whole Body of believers from past to future, from East to West.

All come to the Father through Jesus…but how is a great mystery to us. Maybe the priest was getting at that aspect of faith.

I appreciate the responses and I thank all for your comments. Everything that I’ve read so far holds truth and much validity.

I believe **Pugsly **hit on it perfectly. Does it mean that one should stop going to church, or join another religion because they don’t like the Catholic Church or Her tenets, or just give up because they might not go to Heaven? Most emphatically NO!

We have to be strong in OUR OWN Faith, persevere, pray often, do not judge others and, most importantly, do not lose our Faith or take it for granted. God’s Will be done!

I believe Tabycat was spot on as well!

Much Peace!

Mike