FIRST, hell: Following on our September 22 column citing Sunday Mass readings this September 25, the Gospel passage from Saint Luke (Lk 16:19-31) spoke of a problem of spiritual ignorance probably more rampant today than in Jesus' time: people don't believe or care about eternal punishment after death.

In our Lord's parable, after a life of luxury, a rich man was in "the netherworld... in torment" while Lazarus, who in life suffered destitution outside his mansion, joined Abraham in heaven. The agonizing soul implored Abraham: "I beg you, father, send him (Lazarus) to my... five brothers, so he may warn them..."

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