In today's Gospel reading, we read the last of Jesus' parables in Matthew 13. (The last parable from this chapter; He told many more parables.) It's about a net that is thrown into the sea. It collects good and bad. The good and the bad are then separated.
"Thus will it be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
What is this "fiery furnace"? I think we both know it is hell. So how do we make sure we are not one of the ones thrown into the fiery furnace? I suppose there are any number of answers. Could it be boiled down to one single word? I think so. Love. As in love God, and love your neighbor. Perhaps perfect love will allow us to avoid the fiery furnace.
Father, may we strive for a more perfect love each day. Save us from the fiery furnace. Amen.
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