Hotter Than Hell

By Joe Sullivan, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

Last week, in my medical transport job, I picked up a middle-aged man, Frank, to take him to his doctor’s appointment. It was 118 degrees outside! As he got into the car he expressed relief, “Whew! Man is it HOT! Phoenix is really like hell this summer.” “Oh Yeah!”, I replied, “but I think it is more like purgatory because there is an end to it, especially come around October.” Frank was quick and retorted, “You must be Catholic.” “Of course,” I replied. 

We both agreed that the summer’s oppressive heat would end in the Fall, making room for the temperate Arizona winter. Nevertheless, Frank maintained that there is no purgatory and that it is not in the Bible. I pointed out that the word “purgatory” didn’t have to be in the Bible for it to be true. Similarly, the word “Trinity” is not in the Bible. I then followed with a thread of logical questions. 

I asked Frank, “Is there is anything in heaven that is not perfect?” I told him I am not perfect and if I died now, I could not go immediately to heaven because heaven is for the perfect souls. I asked Frank if he thought he was perfect. He replied with a quick “No.” “So then, if we are not perfect, how can we enter heaven?” I asked him. My last question was, “Frank, do you believe a person who loves God but commits a small sin, like a child who steals cookies, will be condemned for all eternity?” Frank answered, “No.” Now this is where Frank began to understand the doctrine of purgatory. 

God is both merciful and just. This is God showing His mercy while at the same time being eternally just. Then Frank said, “OK. Maybe there is a purgatory, but at least for today, Phoenix is still hotter than hell!” I agreed.