Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.
Most people don’t realize it, but today’s Scripture reading is one of the best thumbnail sketches of the doctrine of purgatory to be found in Scripture. For purgatory is simply the completion of the process Paul describes above. It is “pain unto life” rather than damnation unto death and it begins, not after death, but in this life whenever our sufferings cleanse us and make room for the Holy Spirit to grow in our lives. That is why an ancient prayer in the Church is, “Lord, send me my purgatory now.” The fire of purgatory is the fire of God’s love. It hurts, but it hurts good. It is the same paradox that athletes discover in what is called the “runners high”. As we run the course, finish the race, and keep the faith, we know suffering. But we know joy even more deeply. The joy, not merely of being forgiven, but of being changed into the image of Christ himself.
