Of Grief And Death

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 
1 Thessalonians 4:13

“This life is a dress rehearsal for the real thing.”  I don’t know who said that, but it’s true.  Think about it; we were created to be immortal.  This life is temporary.  It will last for maybe 70, 80, or even 100 years.  But then we enter into eternity.  How we live here determines how we will live there.

Our readings today refocus our attention on this vital truth.  Wisdom calls us to take heed and seek her.  Jesus reminds us to always be ready for we do not know the timing of His return to be the judge of the living and the dead.  We may add that no one knows the time of their own death. 

St. Paul lays out for us some things to ponder in this regard.  He teaches us that the Christian does not view death like those who have no hope.  Death is grievous whenever it occurs.  There will indeed be weeping and mourning.  Our Lord wept at the death of His friend Lazarus so there is nothing wrong or out of place with such.  But we do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 

St. Paul is writing to an infant church to encourage them in the face of death.  Wherever the gospel was preached it was done with the anticipation that the Lord would return soon.  It may well be that the Thessalonians were wondering about those who died before the Lord’s return.  Would they be able to be partakers of the glory of that time?  Paul’s answer is an emphatic “yes”.

He begins with directing our attention to the resurrection of Jesus.  When Jesus died, He truly died.  When He was raised He did not return to this life.  Rather, He was raised in resurrection life.  He is demonstrating that life that is destined for all who believe in the resurrection.  St. Paul reasons that if we believe that Jesus died and rose again then we should equally believe in our own resurrection.

He goes on to recount what will happen in that great day.  Those who have died, believing in Jesus, will rise from the dead when the Lord returns.  They will be caught up, body and soul, to meet the Lord in the air.  Then we who are alive at that time will also be caught up to join them.  Then we will always be with the Lord forever.  This is the source of comfort that Paul offers these infant believers.

I think in our own day we are in great need of this same reminder.  Last week we remembered the dead.  On All Saints we celebrated those in heaven.  On All Souls we prayed for those still undergoing their purgation.  In this month of November, the Church directs our attention to think about death, even our own death.

This may seem morbid to some, but it was a regular practice for many of the saints.  To think about death is not morbid.  In fact, it can become a source of joy.  The Christian loves the Lord so much that the best we can think about is the day when we can see Him face to face.  Then we truly will live happily ever after.  Every fairy tale is a mere reflection of this vital truth.  It is written into the hearts and souls of every person and is our true longing.  If we haven’t been deceived and distracted by the things of this world we can see it clearly.

How should we view death? 

First, death comes to all.  We will all die someday.  It could be soon.  It may not be for several years.  But we will all die.

Second, death for the Christian is welcome.  It is a wonderful thing.  True, as we mentioned, there is grief for those who remain in this life.  But our weeping is temporary and we can be comforted and encouraged as we turn our attention to what awaits us.

Third, death puts life into perspective.  What will be important in light of our last day?  How will we give an account of our lives when we see Jesus?  Then let’s live that way now. 

Finally, death will bring us to our own particular judgment.  We must give an account to God for the stewardship of our lives.  Those who have lived contrary to God’s ways will be lost.  Those who have obeyed in faith will be saved.  This is very sobering, but necessary.  Too many give no thought to their eternal destination.  God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance [2 Peter 3:9].  But He will give us what we have freely chosen.  This is perhaps the most misunderstood aspect of it all.  How does a good God send people to hell?  Because they have freely chosen it and He will not force them to go to heaven and love Him forever.

Death for the Christian, however, offers great hope and anticipation.  We don’t know what heaven will be like, but we have been given some hints.  We know it will be glorious, full of love and joy.  Best of all, we will see God face to face.  We will know Him as He truly is.  No more, will we know Him only by faith.  For there, faith becomes sight.  What a truly glorious day that will be!

We all know people who have died.  Perhaps some were very close to us.  It’s a sad and difficult time.  But there is comfort to be found as we meditate on these truths of our faith.  We do not believe merely for this world, but we believe we will enter into glory in the next.  Forever we will be with our Lord and those who have gone before us in the faith.  Therefore, console one another with these words!