|
| |
|
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life
to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you. |
|
(Romans 8:11) |
| |
| The Last Four Things:
|
|
Death |
We all know we have exactly the same thing to look forward to in this life -
death. How do we deal with this reality? Some of us simply ignore it, others
fight all aspects of aging with expensive concoctions and medical
procedures. Within the multitude of ways to deal with the certainty of our
mortality, there are special people who have faced death with grace and
peace. Thankfully we have known many of these special people, and they have
taught us so much.We have been taking the Eucharist to people who are
sick and homebound for several years now. We started out thinking we would
help others, but we have been repaid for our small efforts a thousand-fold.
We have met people who are lonely, people who are terminally ill, and people
who have a difficult time getting around like they used to. We have met
their caregivers, the friends and family who have made the commitment to
keep their loved ones at home. We have seen devoted husbands and wives who
inspire us with their love. In the faces of each and every one of these
people we see the image of God.
We are honored with the task of leading these people in prayer, and
providing them the Eucharist, the same Eucharist we share with our community
earlier in the day. It is a powerful experience - the sacrament brings peace
and comfort to all who receive it. Despite their pain, despite their fear,
despite the difficulties they suffer, they have moments of joy when they
receive the Body of Christ.
Our experiences in taking the Eucharist to the homebound have profoundly
affected our family. We talk about life and death in ways we previously
would not have imagined. We view death differently than we did just a few
years ago. The Catechism of the Catholic Church: Second Edition 
reminds us that death is an end to our earthly life, and assures us that it
is not an end to our soul. (CCC #1021) We are witnesses to that Truth
every time we see Christ in the Eucharist take away the pain of those who
are suffering. We know we need not worry about death. All it brings is
an end to limited earthly possibilities. New possibilities, glorious
possibilities, await us.
The following is an abridged version of a parable by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933).
We appreciate the perspective it gives to dying.
I am standing on the seashore.
A ship spreads her sails to the morning breeze
And starts for the ocean.
I am watching her until she fades on the horizon,
And someone by my side says,
"She is gone."
Gone where?
The loss of sight is in ME
Not in her.
Just at the moment when someone says,
"She is gone,"
There are others watching her coming.
Other voices take up the glad shout,
"Here she comes!"
That is dying.
|
|
Judgment |
There are two different types of judgment we will undergo after death. The
first is called particular judgment, the second is called general
judgment or last judgment.Particular
Judgment
Particular judgment occurs at the instant of death. God, knowing all,
evaluates how well we loved Him and loved our neighbor during our earthly
life. It is from this judgment that we will be sent to Heaven, Hell, or
Purgatory.
General Judgment
General judgment will come at the end of time. Everyone, both the living
and the dead, from Heaven, Hell and Purgatory, will see the triumph of God.
It will be the Second Coming of the Messiah. The good and the evil will be
permanently separated. The universe will be renewed, and be perfectly
re-established in Christ. After the last judgment the righteous will reign
forever with Christ, glorified in body and soul.
|
|
Hell |
Church teachings are straightforward on this subject. Hell is a willful,
eternal separation from God. It is a free choice we, ourselves, make. There
is no predestination which dooms anyone to Hell.
What constitutes willful separation? Unrepented mortal sin. In order to
be a mortal sin three things are necessary: the act is bad, the offender
knows it is bad, and the offender commits the act anyway.
Church teachings on Hell are not designed to scare us into behaving
properly. The Church reminds us of these teachings from Scripture to call us
to continual conversion. God gave us the gift of free will. That freedom includes
an inherent responsibility that we also must accept. It is up to us to
choose the right path. God is always present to welcome us into the fold,
but we have to listen and accept the call He is giving us. Only then can we
love God and our neighbor, avoiding the eternal separation which comes from
rejecting the love of God.
|
|
Purgatory |
What happens to those of us who die while still guilty of minor sins? Are we
bound to go to Hell? Thankfully, the answer is no. After all, most of us try
to be good; we occasionally fail, then repent, and try to do better next
time. God recognizes our friendship with Him and gives us a chance to be
purified so we can attain the holiness necessary to be with Him forever in
Heaven. This purification is called Purgatory.
The purification is often compared to the punishments of Hell; however,
people in Purgatory are happy. Despite their suffering, they know they will
someday be with God in Heaven.
After the Second Vatican Council many people thought the doctrine of
Purgatory had been eliminated. This was never true. In fact, the Church
strongly encourages those of us on earth to give alms, receive
indulgences, and offer Masses and
works of penance for the souls in Purgatory.
|
|
Heaven |
|
We dream of the "beatific vision," being with God in all His glory. If we
die in the state of grace and need no further purification we can finally
achieve the ultimate dream - Heaven. It is the perfect life in complete
communion with the Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and the
saints. Heaven is ultimate happiness, the answer to every human longing,
completely enveloped in true Love.
|
|
|
|
