The Lord “wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth” (1 Tm 2:4). “It is no part of your heavenly Father’s plan that a single one of these little ones shall ever come to grief” (Mt 18:14). God wants us to be with Him forever in heaven so much that “He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (Jn 3:16-17).

However, God, Who is Love (1 Jn 4:16), will not force His love on us. We must freely accept or reject Him. If we choose to reject Him, in His mercy He will give us the wages of our sins (Rm 6:23) so that we may see the consequences of our actions and realize we must repent. For example, when Miriam sinned by being jealous of Moses, the Lord let her become a leper and thereby called her to repentance (Nm 12:10).

If we persist in sinning and in refusing to repent, we choose not to love God Who is Love. We choose a loveless life forever, that is, we put ourselves in hell. Then Jesus will be forced to say again: “Let them go their way; they are blind leaders of the blind” (Mt 15:14).

Don’t choose the selfishness of everlasting hell. Choose to love.

Rescript:  In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period August 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 4, 2023

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.