Patriarch Daniel: Heaven and hell begin in our souls during earthly life

“Hell or heaven begins in our souls even in this world,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel warned on Sunday, explaining the parable our Saviour Jesus Christ told about the Rich Man and Poor Lazarus.

“Today’s Gospel teaches us that our eternal happiness or unhappiness beyond the grave depends on how freely we live out the mystery of merciful love here on earth,” His Beatitude emphasised.

The Patriarch of Romania also explained that “the merciless rich man was condemned not so much for the evil deeds he committed, but for the good he could have done and failed to do, and because he confused freedom with laziness and spiritual insensitivity or indifference towards the poor. God sees and values not only a person’s deeds, but also the condition of their soul.”

“Although materially poor, Lazarus nevertheless enriched his soul with many virtues, namely humility, patience, hope in God and refraining from judging his neighbour,” Patriarch Daniel added.

“Today’s Gospel reveals a fundamental truth: before God, it is not only the number of good deeds that matters. What matters above all is the goodness of a humble soul, or the humble and merciful love with which good deeds have been…