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Recently I have found a persistent line of questioning in reference to the traditional understanding of the Lord’s promise to the Church: the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it (Matt 16:18) . Yesterday on the blog a reader stated the question quite well:

This is just a curiosity question, but why is it that “gates” is always phrased by Catholics as if they were an offensive weapon being wielded against the Church? I’ve never heard them used  as such ….

But in the normal usage of the word “gates” wouldn’t it be that the Church is doing the attacking against [the domain of] Hell, but that Hell’s gates will not be able to hold out (ie, prevail) against the Church’s onslaught [in Christ]? Gates don’t normally go around attacking things on their own…

Further, while the word may simply refer to the large entrance gate to a city or fortress, it also typically refers to the exit the people go out of. And in this sense, word focuses on “what proceeds out of something.”

And thus we see some of the subtleties of the word pules. Now, for the translator, “gates” is a perfectly adequate translation. But for the reader and interpreter, more is required.

Contextually, it would seem rather clear that Jesus does not have literal gates in mind. First, Hell does not have literal iron gates. Further, since Jesus speaks of the gates as “not prevailing,” it would also seem that he has in mind something more than inanimate metal gates of some sort. For as our reader states, it does not pertain to gates to do much more than just sit there.

Further still, the verb κατισχύσουσιν (katischusousin = will prevail)  is a future, indicative, active verb. Now, inanimate objects tend to be acted upon, and thus they generally take passive verb forms, not active ones.  For  again it does not pertain to inanimate object to act, but to be acted upon.

And thus, contextually, it seems clear that our Lord here uses the word “gates” in a figurative, rather than a literal sense. Figuratively, he probably means that the powers of Hell would not prevail against the Church. And, as stated above this is a common figurative meaning of the Greek word  πύλης (gates) in ancient usage.

However, we need not understand this text in merely an “either-or” way. Many biblical texts admit of a number of different interpretations which need not be seen as mutually exclusive, even if they are rather different.  For, one of the geniuses of human language and expression is that it can admit of many potential meanings.

And so, there may be a certain pastoral sense in which we can read this text in a way that it describes the Church, attacking the strongholds of the Hell in this world, and of gaining back territory for the Kingdom.

However, in this interpretation, we would once again want to avoid an overly literal sense of the term “Gates of Hell.”   For in nowise, would the Church seek to storm The actual entrance of Hell so as to enter it. Rather, the gates of hell are to be sealed off by the Lord And locked from the outside  (e.g. Rev 20:3).  Of course, once again, these are not likely literal iron gates of some sort, But are at some sort of barrier or boundary marker indicating the limits of Hell, and it’s influence.

In this limited, and I would argue secondary sense, one might might see the Church as storming the “gates of Hell” and Hell not being able to prevail against her.

Another interesting question that arises in this passage is a precise definition of the Greek word used for “Hell” in this passage. The Greek Word is ᾅδου (hadou or hades).

Here too,  many insist that  the term only means “the place of the dead,”  and is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew concept of Sheol. Thus according to this position, Hades refers only to the place where all the dead went prior to the coming of Christ, and never means the place of the damned.

But again, the actual New Testament texts seem to bespeak a greater flexibility than an either-or argument would imply.

It is certainly true that “Hades” most often translates the Hebrew concept of Sheol.  In this sense, Hades does not mean the theological place of the damned, where Satan and the other fallen angels dwell.

But it would also seem that there are uses of “Hades”to refer to the place of the damned, to the place of utter and permanent exclusion from the presence of God.

For example, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man is in torment in “Hades.” But here, the torment does not seem a mere temporary abode until the Messiah comes to call him. Jesus seems to describe a fiery place of torment,  and the rich man is not sleeping in death but is quite alive and aware.  Neither does he, or Father Abraham, seem to look to a day when this separation will be ended. Rather, there is mention of a “great abyss” over which no one can cross. The arrangement seems quite definitive, quite permanent, and the description more like that of Gehenna (γέεννα), the more common term Jesus uses to indicate Hell.

Further, in the Book of Revelation 20:14–15,  there is the description of death and Hades being thrown into the lake of fire. And thus, even if there is a distinction between Hades and Gehenna, they now seem, in a text like this, to be quite coterminous, indeed they become one reality.

So in the text that concerns us here,  when Jesus speaks of the powers of Hell not prevailing, it would not seen that he has in mind simply Sheol (Hades), or purgatory. For why would Sheol or purgatory wage war against the Church?

Hence, contextually, it seems stronger argument that the Lord in using “Hades”  to mean here what we moderns mean by the word “Hell,”  namely, the theological place of the damned, to include Satan, the fallen angels, and human persons who have chosen to exclude themselves from the Kingdom of God.

As with all Biblical texts, reasonable scholars will differ, even within the Catholic Church. What I have tried to do here, is to show that the traditional Catholic understanding that the powers of Hell would not prevail against the church is at least a valid interpretation of the text, and at best, a better interpretation of the text. 

Let’s say you have a choice to take one of two airplanes to take to a distant city, lets call our destination, “Heavenly City.”

The one plane (Church Airlines) gets there 100% of the time. The other plane (Alsoran Airlines) gets there sometimes, but other times it is in disrepair, or  it lands in the wrong city, or at still other times it crashes.

OK, which plane are you going to take?

Now I am not going to tell you that only Church Airline riders  get to Heavenly City. Some people on the other plane do sometimes get there, but its a pretty uncertain ride. At least with Church Airlines the plane is certain to get there: it won’t crash, get lost or fail to take off.

So, choose your airline!  But remember that Church Airlines has a 100 % record, Alsoran Airlines can make no such claim. When it comes to flying even 99 1/2 won’t do, gotta make a 100!

 The simple fact is that the world and other inferior brands might not get you there.  Untested spiritualities and the latest trends won’t cut it. Only Jesus and the Catholic Church he founded are up to the job 100% of the time.

Now be careful though. You have to stay on the plane for the whole journey. Don’t get off at a connecting city (such as Sin City) or  any such thing. Stay the course to Heavenly City.

Further, there is no claim that every steward or pilot is perfect or all the passengers are pleasant, or  that the ride is never bumpy and without incident. But this much is clear, the plane gets there.

The Catholic Church alone (aka Church airlines)  is 100% reliable by Jesus’ own promise.  It’s a pretty good reason to get on board before the door closes and walkway swings back. There is a mid-flight meal, (called the Eucharist), and an in-flight movie, “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (aka the Scriptures) included in the price of your ticket which is, by the way, free.

The Church is Indefectible- There are very few certainties in this world about anything but one thing is for sure: The Church will prevail, the Church will be here to infallibly lead us to the end of days.

“How arrogant!” you might say. And yet,  I did say it. Why? Not because of any human guarantee, but based rather on the firm promise of Jesus himself:

The place is Ceasarea Phillipi and Jesus is speaking to Simon Peter who had just confessed him to be the Christ and the Son of  the Living God. Now Jesus speaks and says, You are Peter (Rock), and upon this rock I will build my church,and the gates of hell  shall not prevail against it.  (Matt 16:18)

The Church will surely be hated, attacked and persecuted but Hell will never prevail, never defeat the Church Jesus founded. Not only will Hell not prevail over the Church, but the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the ultimate incursion of the Church into the territory of the Devil.

This power of the Church to endure to the end is no human power. It is not based on brilliant or perfect human leaders. It is based solely on Jesus’  promise.

So it is not arrogant to make this claim, it is simply biblical and a matter of faith in Jesus.

This prevailing power of the Church means that the Church will be here to the end.  Count on it since Jesus promised it. This is what is meant by the “indefectibility” of Church.

The Church is Infallible – Christ promise also means that the Church cannot mislead us or teach falsely in a matter of faith and morals. This is what is meant by the “infallibility” of the Church in matters of faith and morals definitively taught.  Here is the way the catechism puts it.

In order to preserve the Church in the purity of the faith handed on by the apostles, Christ who is the Truth willed to confer on her a share in his own infallibility…It is this Magisterium’s task to preserve God’s people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the true faith without error. Thus, the pastoral duty of the Magisterium is aimed at seeing to it that the People of God abides in the truth that liberates. To fulfill this service, Christ endowed the Church’s shepherds with the charism of infallibility in matters of faith and morals. The exercise of this charism takes several forms: “The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops, enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office, when, as supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful – who confirms his brethren in the faith he proclaims by a definitive act a doctrine pertaining to faith or morals. The infallibility promised to the Church is also present in the body of bishops when, together with Peter’s successor, they exercise the supreme Magisterium, above all in an Ecumenical Council. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 889-891)

Now some object to this claim of the infallibility of the Church. But reason with me for a minute. Jesus promised that the powers of Hell could not prevail against the Church. But if the Church could formally teach error about faith and morals, and if the Church could mislead people about what was necessary for their eternal salvation, then it would be a fact that the gates of Hell HAD prevailed. But since Jesus promised it could never happen, then, by God’s grace, the Church is protected from formally teaching falsely on matters of faith and morals. Do you trust Jesus and believe his word? Then the Church is unsinkable and infallible regarding faith and morals.

 There are many other gifts given to the Church and Fr. Barron speak of them here:

Over at Space.com there is an article that sets forth a recent discovery of a new but fleeting set of Van Allen belts around the earth. These radiation belts have a critical role in our ability to survive since they help deflect most of the more harmful rays of the sun. Without these radiation belts we would “cook” in the harmful radiation of unfiltered sunrays.

The presence of the “Van Allen Belts” are another reminder that life on this planet isn’t just the result of a few simple things. It depends on a large number of things being present so that our beautiful blue marble can sustain the vast amount of life it does. More on this in a minute.  But first,  Here’s a brief excerpt from the article:

A ring of radiation previously unknown to science fleetingly surrounded Earth last year…made of super-high-energy electrons embedded in the outer Van Allen belt about 11,900 to 13,900 miles above the planet’s surface. This stable ring of space radiation apparently formed on Sept. 2  and lasted for more than four weeks…..This newfound radiation belt then abruptly and almost completely disappeared on Oct. 1. It was apparently disrupted by an interplanetary shock wave caused by a spike in solar wind speeds.

[The]  Van Allen radiation belts, [are] zones of magnetically trapped, highly energetic charged particles first discovered in 1958…..Unexpectedly, the probes revealed a new radiation belt surrounding Earth, ….It remains uncertain how this temporary radiation belt arose. Van Allen mission scientists suspect it was likely created by the solar wind tearing away the outer Van Allen belt. [More at Space.com]

Clearly the scientists are still studying this matter but the protective Van allen Belts are not just a static system it would seem. Rather they are a dynamic and flexible system that respond to and interact with the “solar winds” so as to provide us additional protection when necessary.

I remain stuned with awe and gratitude at the glory of God’s creation and also the fact that, it is not just a few things that come together to permit higher life to exist here. No indeed, the conditions that God maintains for us here on earth have a remarkable complexity and thereby are likely rare conditions that may not be found easily even in this vast cosmos. Let me explain.

Rare Earth?? While most people, including most scientists, presume that there may be billions of inhabitable planets out there a lot like Earth, there is another theory base (called “rare earth theory”) that is dubious of such a high number.

This is because as we have already noted, there are not just a few things that come together to support life on earth, there are many. Here are just a few:

1. The earth is at just the right distance from the sun so that water is warm enough to melt, but not so hot as to boil and steam away into space. Water is also able in this habitable zone to both evaporate and condense at lower levels in the atmosphere, thus permitting a more even distribution of water, and a cycle of water over dry land known as precipitation.
2. The earth is in a “habitable zone” in the galaxy too. Closer to the center of galaxies, radiation and the presence of wandering planetoids make life there unlikely.
3. Earth’s orbit is almost a perfect circle rather than an “eccentric” (i.e. steep or elongated) ellipse that some other planets have. Steep elliptical orbits take the planet relatively close and then relativly far from the sun and this is great consequences for warmth and light. But the earth has a very stable orbot that is alomost a perfect circle. This keeps our relationship with the Sun and it s heat and light, quite stable.
4. We have the nearby presence of two “gas giants” (Jupiter and Saturn) that attract and catch many wandering asteroids and comets and keep them form hitting the earth often.
5. Our molten core and volcanism generate the magnetic field mentioned above. These field or belts protect the earth from the most harmful rays of the sun.
6. Volcanism also has a role in helping generate our atmosphere and in cycling rich minerals widely.
7. Our sun is just the right kind of star, putting out a fairly steady amount of energy. Other types of stars are more variable in their output and this variance can utterly destroy life or cause it to be impossible due to the extremes caused.
8. The earth’s fairly rapid rotation reduces the daily variation in temperature It also makes photosynthesis viable since there is enough sunlight all over the planet.
9. The earth’s axis tilt relative to it orbital plane is also just right to allow seasonal variations that help complex life but not so tilted as to make the seasons too extreme.
10. The moon also has a good effect by causing tides that are just enough to permit tidal zones (a great breading ground for diverse life) and not too severe so as to destroy life by extreme tides.

Are you praying with me Church?  The conditions for life that come together on this planet are complex, remarkable and, some argue, likely rare in the Universe. Life here is the balance of many fascinating things (and a lot more I don’t have time to mention). Just Google “Rare Earth Theory” to read more.

The recent discovery of a possible third Van Allen Belt that comes and goes only adds to the complexity and the statistical factors that measure the likelihood of lots of other “Earths” out there.

Whatever you want to make of this discovery, we cannot but be amazed at the complexity of life and the intricacies it takes for life to flourish here.

As for me and my household, we will give God all the glory and reamin in wonder and awe and the marvelous things he does! How about you?

One of the things I often marvel at is that a good number of young people are more socially conservative than their parents.

I am in the last five years of the Baby Boom generation, perhaps the most selfish, immature, egotistical and rebellious generation that has ever lived in this country. The rebellion reached full flower in 1968, a terrible year not only of assassinations, but also of open sexual misconduct, the celebration of rebellion, of immature disrespect of authority and tradition, and a large percentage of people  stoned out of their mind.

Now, this generation (my generation) at some point had to take a bath (after wallowing in the mud of Woodstock), take the flowers of out its hair, put on a suit and go to work. But a lot of the selfish, egotistical and iconoclastic tendencies remained with this spoiled generation as they (we) ushered in abortion on demand, no fault divorce, cohabitation, low birthrates, widespread pornography, and numerous other social ills that amount to a general shredding of the family and a coherent and functional culture.

To some degree, the next generation will react to the reaction, rebel against the rebellion. And at least to some extent I have seen it. A lot of the younger people I have met and am preparing for marriage or see at theology on tap sessions, or meet over at the seminary and in novitiate for the Order in my parish , are re-embracing the tradition their parents and grandparents so carelessly cast aside. Further, these younger people see what a disaster the lives of their parents and grandparents have been with failed marriages, addictions, STDs, and many other ills.

At some level, disgusted by what they see, they are resolved to be more careful to avoid their parents mistakes. The knee-jerk rebelliousness of the boomers seems far less evident in their grandchildren whom I find more reasonable, teachable and even hungry for the truth.

I don’t know how widespread the phenomenon I describe is, and I suspect that the overall numbers in our culture are still headed in the wrong direction. The whole gay union thing is emblematic of that. Nevertheless there is a growing core, perhaps a remnant, of younger people who are picking up the pieces of things their boomer parents shattered and reconsidering once discarded treasures.

I pray only that it will grow and that increasing numbers of younger people will simply shake their heads in dismay at the foolishness of the Boomer generation and work explicitly to restore maturity, accountability and a love for the good, true and beautiful.

The following video is a humorous illustration of how, in order to rebel against the status quo involves another rebellion that, in effect, is a shift back to the status quo ante. What this video illustrates in a small and humorous matter is what I hope will be the case in bigger matters.

In one of the Lenten weekday readings (Wednesday the second week), the prophet Jeremiah says, Remember that I stood before you Oh Lord, to speak on their behalf, to turn away your wrath from them (Jer 18:20).

Jeremiah’s utterance also calls to mind the saying of Pope Gregory The Great who said, Anyone ordained a priest undertakes the task of preaching, that with a loud cry he may go on ahead of the terrible Judge who follows. (Pastoral Guide, Book 2:4).

Now statements like these have to be considered carefully. Descriptions of the wrath of God, and fearsome images of judgment, should not be taken as descriptions of a grouchy God or of a moody and irritable Jesus. Rather, the wrath of God describes the intrinsic conflict between God’s utter holiness and sin.

Consider for example that fire and water do not mix. They cannot be in the same place at the same time. The conflict between them is audible when, for example, we spill water on a hot stove top. We hear the hissing and popping. And this is wrath, this is the conflict.

For water and fire will not coexist in the same spot for long; one will displace the other. If there is a lot of water, and a little fire, out goes the fire. If there is but a little water and a lot of fire, the water immediately turns to steam and is blown away.

And this is how it is with God’s holiness in the presence of sin and injustice. There is a conflict that the Scriptures call wrath. Sin and injustice cannot endure the presence of God, and if they are in us, neither can we adore the presence of God.

It is necessary therefore that we be rendered holy prior to coming into the presence of God. Scripture says, in the book of Hebrews, that we are to strive for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12:14). Of heaven, the book of Revelation says Nothing impure will ever enter it (Rev 21:27)

Now we live in times that tend to brush all of this teaching aside. Most moderns give little thought to their appointment with destiny, or their appearance before the judgment seat of Christ. Most simply think they can walk blithely into the presence of God. Not only is our sense of sin diminished, but even more so, our sense of God’s utter holiness is diminished.

Nevertheless, despite our modern conceptions, Scripture says over, and over, and over again that judgment is something to be taken very seriously and that many will be unable to enter the presence of God (eg. Luke 13:24, inter al).

In the end, it is only the Lord himself they can prepare us for the fateful day of our judgment. Scripture says that Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). The Letter to the Romans also says, we [shall] be safe from God’s wrath through him (Romans 5:9).

Yes, it is only the Lord who can save us and prepare us for judgement so as to avoid The wrath, which is the conflict between sin and God’s utter holiness.

But surely this means that we must be very serious then about prayer, receiving of the sacraments, growing in faith, and holiness by his grace, and staying within the saving ark which is the Church.

And while remains true that only God can save us, and is rich in mercy, it is also true as Augustine says, that he who made us without us will not save us without us (cf Sermon 169.13). Our cooperation and permission (by his grace) with his saving work is an essential aspect of being ready for the coming day of judgment.

Tragically, as the Lord warns, many refuse the pleas of God the Holy Spirit and harden their hearts. Remaining in repeated in unrepentant sin has, it would seem, a cumulative effect, and, as the Lord Jesus says the Day closes in like on them like a trap (Luke 21:34).

Given our propensity to procrastinate, and be presumptuous, especially in these modern days, we need to allow texts like the to increase our sobriety. God is clear, the Day of Judgment is something to be very sober and serious about.

We rightly trust in God’s mercy But we cannot simply neglect the responsibility that comes with freedom; a freedom in which God has constituted us so that we may love and freely choose him. We need to recover the understanding that our choice becomes cumulative over time.

We also need to better grasp that our judgment consists in a recognition by God of the choices we have made, it is a kind of respectful acknowledgment by God of what we have chosen. In this sense Judgement is more about our final choice, than simply a choice God makes to save or condemn.

Pray God that our choice is yes to God, and that we do not harden our hearts.

And even for those who die in friendship with God, it seems clear that for most of us, some finishing work is required in order that we enter into the full presence of God. For here too, we must remember that God is utterly holy and that nothing impure is able to endure His glorious presence for long.

Thus, God in his mercy, burns away our imperfections with a lesser fire, lest we endure the unmitigated fire of his utter Holiness, for again, the Scripture says, our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29).

Perhaps in this context, we do well to speculate that though Hell is hot, Heaven is hotter. For our God is a burning furnace of charity, a refining fire, an intensity of love. As Jesus one said, I have come to cast a fire on earth, and how I wish the blaze were already ignited! (Luke 12:49)

So, we must be ready to enter a glorious fire by already being on fire ourselves. It is no accident that the Lord kindled a fire by sending tongues of fire upon the early apostles, and upon all of us at our Confirmation. The only way to enter God’s fire is to already be fire ourselves, by his grace.

Yes fellow Christians there is a wrath. It is not a wrath as we commonly understand the term, but it is nevertheless something for which we must be ready. Let the Lord set you on fire with his love, to get you ready!