The souls of the just are in the hands of God
Perhaps for many of us, when we think of Purgatory, the first thing that comes to mind is intense suffering, for that is what the word means. It is true that the souls in Purgatory suffer intensely, yet the emphasis of the readings is on something positive.
In the first reading we have heard that “The souls of the just are in the hand of God… For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble…” They live by this hope of God’s visitation.
The souls in Purgatory can apply the words of the Responsorial Psalm to themselves: “Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.” Despite their suffering, they have passed beyond the grip of Satan, and unlike us still on earth, they have no risk of ever losing their salvation. If any earthly value were offered them in exchange for their suffering, they would prefer their sufferings because of the hope of seeing God which they offer.
They can say with St. Paul as we heard in the second reading that “We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.”
They are counted among those whom the Father has given to the Son, and of whom the Son says: For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” And indeed, on the last day they will hear the words of Jesus we heard in the gospel acclamation: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
As we pray for a quick release from their torments, we also pray that we may share they intense hope of seing God which is the highest value, worth the loss of everything else and worth enduring all suffering possible.
