Heavenly Father, eyes have not seen, ears have not heard
what you have prepared for those who love you.
Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Spirit of Christ help us to persevere. In Jesus’ name we pray!
COMMENTARY
One of the most fundamental beliefs of the Catholic Church is in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. If Jesus hadn’t defeated death as well as sin, what is the point? We would be living a random, meaningless life like those who refuse to believe in God, believe in no outside authority than themselves, and nothing to hold us in check in our inner actions with others.
It would be totally chaotic and self driven by under whelming minds and out of control lusts for power, money and fame. Let’s face it if that is all there is in this world, then why not aggrandize everything to ourselves before death ends it all. And if we are having a bad time of it, why not doctor assisted suicide? And if people are sick, disabled, not useful to us, most importantly an inconvenient pregnancy why not cleanse humanity of its imperfections? Pretty depressing picture, right! Thank God and I mean that literally this is not the reality Christians live!
Fortunately, for Christians there is much more. We believe in God that cares, who is involved in our lives, and wishes to spend all eternity with us. Yes, we are material and spiritual, made up of body and soul. And Jesus promises us there is a place already picked out for us to live for all eternity.
“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?3* And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. “John 14;2-3
CATHOLIC SCRIPTURE
St. Paul preaches in his first letter to the Corinthians, “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead then Christ has not been raised and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (Cor. 15:12-14)
Death is a consequence of Original Sin. After death, each person faces a particular judgment before God. After the particular judgment, the person will either immediately enter into the blessedness of heaven, purification in purgatory, or eternal damnation in hell. Those who die in the grace and friendship with God and who are perfectly purified from sinfulness will see God face to face as He really is and live with Christ forever.
In the resurrection we will have spiritual bodies. Our natural bodies came from Adam, our spiritual bodies come from Christ. St. Paul says: “as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man [Adam], so we shall bear the likeness of the heavenly one [Christ]” (1 Corinthians 15:49) Jesus came to “dress our perishable nature with imperishability and our mortal nature with immortality’ (1 Corinthians 15:53).
Our short lives on earth are a sowing time. Life on earth is the time when the seeds of the risen body are planted. St. Paul says: “What is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable; what is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; what is sown is weak, but what is raised is powerful; what is sown is a natural body, and what is raised is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
Everlasting Life refers to the perpetuity of happiness, blessedness, wholeness, and union with the Most Blessed Trinity in heaven. The Early Fathers of the Church described eternal life as “exemption from all evil and an enjoyment of all good.
“Eye hath not seen; ears hath not heard, or the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” (I Cor. 2:9)
In the Book of Revelations, the last book of Scriptures, it states, “They shall no more hunger and thirst. Neither shall the sun fall on them nor any heat. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more. Nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
Our essential happiness in heaven will be the Beatific Vision, to see God as He is, God who is the source of all goodness and perfection. “Dearly beloved we are now the sons and daughters of God and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know when He shall appear we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is.” (I John 3:2)
CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING
CCC 1026 By his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has “opened” heaven to us. The life of the blessed consists in the full and perfect possession of the fruits of the redemption accomplished by Christ. He makes partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will. Heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ.
CCC 1020 The Christian who unites his own death to that of Jesus views it as a step towards him and an entrance into everlasting life. When the Church for the last time speaks Christ’s words of pardon and absolution over the dying Christian, seals him for the last time with a strengthening anointing, and gives him Christ in viaticum as nourishment for the journey, she speaks with gentle assurance:
“Go forth Christian soul from this world in the name of God, the Almighty Father who created you. In the name of Jesus, the Son of the Living God who suffered for you. In the name of the Holy Spirit who was poured out upon you. Go forth faithful Christian. May you live in peace this day. May your home be with God, with Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, with Joseph and all the angels and saints. May you return to your Creator who formed you from the dust of the earth. May Holy Mary, the angels and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life. May you see your Redeemer face to face.” (CCC=Catechism of Catholic Church)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Purgatory is a teaching of the Church. Souls in purgatory can pray for us but not themselves. What is my response?
What prayers do I say for my departed relatives and friends?
Am I frightened of death? Why? If I knew I was going to die soon, would I make changes in my behavior? If so, what?
Since the body will rise on the last day and become immortal, why do you think God would have such a plan that body and soul would live for all eternity together?
What can’t you wait to say to Jesus in person?
God so loves us and cannot wait to greet us. How excited are we to embrace Him? Let us keep our eyes fixed on the prize!
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not to condemn us but to save us. Do not look upon our sinfulness and what we truly deserve, but in your mercy, forgive us. Bring us home to Eternal Life with you, your Son, and the Most Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray.
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