…the resurrection of the body…
Whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die
(John 11:26)
Well, that’s quite the statement by Jesus. It is not enough to simply believe in Him. We must also live in Him. The ability to do that is given to us through the great gifts of the Sacraments and especially the Eucharist. The extension of the Sacraments is the gift of the Holy Spirit within us. If we accept the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, then we absolutely can live in Him and believe in Him.
Personally, I’ve come to experience the peace of death even while living in the sadness of it. In the past few months, both my mother in law and sister have died. In these desperate times, so many have also died.
We are mortal. We are finite. There is no way to escape that reality. So, what allows us to continue to that final moment in time in peace? No fear. Just peace.
Several years ago, my mom passed away and I remember holding her hands while we waited for the priest to arrive to administer Last Rights. He looked softly at me and said, “I need her hands”. Even now, when I recall releasing my hold on her earthly attachment to God, the world moves in slow motion. There was absolute peace overshadowing all of us there. God was present. Mom was returning home. When my mother in law passed away in December, we were not there. But even as we looked upon her lying in her bed, overcome with sadness and disbelief, I gently kissed her goodbye, stroked her face and said, “rest with God now Momasita (my nickname for her), rest with God”.
“I believe in the resurrection of the body”. God, who is the creator of flesh, became flesh to redeem us. In our death, our soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection, God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul on the last day.
Because we just don’t know when we will be called home to the Father, we should always be prepared for death. Standing face to face with my God – oh what a gift! Maybe here on earth, I should strive to have a healthy desire to serve God just a little better and just a little more. To give myself to God in service.
Where are you being called to in service? I invite us all to seek God in His Sacraments. To search for Him always and to be present with Him in His Holy Church on earth until it is time for us to be in His presence for eternity.