The theologian Hans von Balthasar wrote a controversial treatise called ‘Dare We Hope That All Men Be Saved?’ Having explored this profound theme, he concluded that ultimately all judgement is God’s and God’s alone. The Catholic Church has never made any declarations about whom it thinks will be finally dammed but prays that every human person will be saved.
In his teaching Jesus made it clear that each one of us needs to make every effort to enter through the narrow door and that salvation involves having a living, vital, dynamic relationship with God. The opposite – a cold, distant, dysfunctional relationship with him — invites the rather harsh rebuke: ‘I do not know where you come from.‘ The response to this rebuke is interesting: ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.‘ People rejected Jesus then and they reject him now.
Christian salvation is not about being good or moral or worthy, because we are none of these. Salvation is about believing Jesus of Nazareth is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Through having faith in him, knowing him and walking with him in this life, we inherit eternal life. Our hope and prayer is that by God’s infinite mercy all will be saved, and for this we fervently pray.