Death is something which many of us are uncomfortable with. We are uncomfortable of our own death and are uncomfortable with the death of a loved one. We see this same uncomfortableness played out in our Gospel for Christ states of them: “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” To the eyes of those without faith it would seem that death is the end, but through the eyes of faith we proclaim the words found in the preface for the dead “life has changed, but not ended.”
We should fear death. Not our bodily death, but rather the death of our soul. The Church holds that to fall into mortal sin puts our soul into eternal jeopardy. In the words of Saint John of the Cross: “The lack of God is death to the soul.” Mortal sin deprives us of God for it deprives us of grace. The girl in our Gospel was not dead, but only sleeping. Her soul was not dead, but rather her soul rested with God.
At one’s death it is common to use the initials, R.I.P., which stand for Rest In Peace. This common saying is a Catholic saying which comes to us from the Latin words of the Mass for the dead: “requiescat in pace.” These words serve as a reminder that a soul does not pop out of existence at death, but through their faithfulness rests with God for all eternity. These initials should serve as a reminder to us to pray for the souls of the faithful departed.
To rest in the peace of Christ is not something which is boring. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1024: “Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.” In the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “The souls of all the saints and other faithful who died after receiving Christ’s holy Baptism already have been, are and will be in heaven, in the heavenly kingdom and celestial paradise with Christ, joined to the company of the holy angels. These souls have seen and do see the divine essence with an intuitive vision, and even face to face, without the mediation of any creature.” To me the communion of angels and saints does not seem boring nor does Heaven and eternal relationship with God seem boring. Let us all strive to rest in the peace of Christ!
If we are to strive to rest in the peace of Christ we must strive while on this earth to pursue Christ. We must dare to place the reminder of death before our sight. The Latin words for this is “momento mori” in English “remember death.” If we remember death we will pursue Christ and will desire to banish the stain of sin from our life. Therefore, my sisters and brothers in Christ, let us strive for Heaven by frequenting the Sacraments especially that of Confession and Eucharist. Many lack a concept of sin, so I implore you to find an Examination of Conscience in a book, on an app, or on the internet and to pray with it to assist in forming your conscience and making a good confession.
In such manner with God’s grace we prepare ourself to embrace our bodily death and to rest in the peace of Christ. The same peace which we now implore for the souls of those who have gone before us into life eternal.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, Rest In Peace. Amen.
