Begin with prayer to the Holy Spirit
Readings: John 5:25-29; Rom. 8:5-11; 1 Cor. 15:35-37
When someone dies, it is very noticeable that those who hardly ever
practice their faith, or any faith at all, will speak of the hope of
life after death, often in very Christian terms. They believe that their
dear one lives on and is with God in a place of joy and peace. While
all this may appear to be simply wish fulfillment or sentimentality
since it is the only shred of belief they appear to have, these hopes
suggest a very real place at which to begin evangelization. Our Savior
tells us to get ready because death will come unexpectedly and, with
it, the last judgment, when we will render an account of our lives.
Based on clear Scriptural arguments (only a few of many texts are
given above), the Catholic faith teaches that not only do we survive
death without our bodies (a mystery) but at the end of the ages we will
also be reunited with our bodies in some real way. Nevertheless, St.
Paul tells us that we will be changed, and he uses the mysterious expression
that we will have a spiritual body. Speculation about what this means
ranges from silly cartoons of the saints standing with halos and wings
on fluffy clouds to questions related to the risen body of Our Lord.
His body passed through locked door and appears to have moved from place
to place without the need for what we think of as travel. While those
of little faith hope to survive death, they may have a great deal of
trouble with the idea of the whole human race rising at the end of the
ages in what are their own changed or spiritual bodies. Since this belief,
which Our Lord taught and St. Paul emphasized, is filled with mystery,
it is best to leave it in the realm of the mysterious and move to simple
belief, that is, to acceptance of the mystery on the authority of God's
word.
(Confer The Catechism of the Catholic Church, §988-1019.)
Quotation for Meditation
A great thing was being done when God constructed humans from matter.
It was honored as often as it experienced the hand of God, when He touched
it, when He pulled at it, when He formed and shaped it. Reflect on God,
totally occupied and given over to it, with His hand, His senses, His
work, His counsel and wisdom, His providence, and especially His affection
that guided its features. For, whatever was expressed in clay, it was
Christ, the future man, that was thought of, for He, the Word made flesh,
was then clay and earth. (Tertullian, De Resurrectione Mortuorum, VI,
2-4, quoted in Rev. James T. O'Connor, Land of the Living: A Theology
of the Last Things, 155.)
The dust around us will one day become animate. We may ourselves be
dead long before, and not see it. We ourselves may elsewhere be buried,
and, should it be our exceeding blessedness to rise to life eternal,
we may rise in other places, far in the east or west. But, as God's
word is sure, what is sown is raised; the earth to earth, ashes to ashes,
dust to dust, shall become glory to glory, and life to the living God,
and a true incorruptible image of the spirit made perfect. Here the
saints sleep, here they shall rise. A great sight will a Christian country
then be, if earth remains what it is; when holy places pour out the
worshippers who have for generations kept vigil therein, waiting through
the long night for the bright coming of Christ! (John Henry Newman,
Parochial and Plains Sermons (Ignatius Press, 1997), 178.)
Quiet Time and Then Discussion
Questions for Meditation
1. Does Christ's frequent admonition to prepare for death really affect
my life?
2. Do I console others, as St. Paul suggests, with the promise of eternal
life in Christ at times of serious sickness and death?
3. Do I make use of the grief of others to teach them about our
hope in the resurrection of the body?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You have promised those
who believe and follow You that they will come with You to our Father's
house. We forget this promise in the events, even the deeply meaningful
events, of daily life. Every time we receive You in the Holy Eucharist,
we proclaim not only Your death and resurrection but also our hope of
life with You in our Father's house and our complete survival after
death. Increase our faith and help us to be Your instruments to encourage
faith in others. Help us all to know that we will be like You because
we shall see You as You are forever and ever. Amen.