Our Gospel presents us with something that many in our culture are uncomfortable with, death and a funeral. In this funeral procession we encounter a mother who weeps at the death of her son. We are told that a great multitude of the city was with her. And we are told that her son was carried upon the bier during this procession.
If we take this opportunity to explore the Funeral Mass we would realize its importance in the midst of the faith that we profess for as Christians we know that death is not the end, but only the beginning. So too in this procession for this man encountered our merciful Lord who commanded him to arise. So too at the conclusion of our life on this earth we encounter our Risen Lord who orients us towards Eternal Life.
Therefore, the processional cross is carried before the body for here we know that the deceased professed Christ during their life on this earth and allowed Him to be the one who led them through the journey of life. Candles are used during this procession to illuminate the darkness of sin and death and to orient us towards the joy that is to come with our Risen Lord who triumphed over this reality. In their burial their heads face towards the East to indicate this life giving reality of our risen Lord.
Sadly, their are many in our Church who have lost their understanding of the true meaning of a Funeral Mass. Some even see no value in having a Mass offered at all. Instead they are concerned with having a Celebration of Life which is custom tailored to the individual who has passed from this life. The importance of the Funeral Mass lies in the fact that it is a necessity to pray for the souls of the faithful departed and it directs our mind towards the hope of life eternal brought about by our Blessed Lord’s Cross and Resurrection.
Our Blessed Lord saw this woman in her misery and He bestowed His infinite mercy upon her. So too our Lord hears our pleas and He answers them. Through our prayers and sacrifices the souls of the faithful departed are further purified in order that they may be received from Purgatory into Heavenly glory. If we are to have this hope for ourself or for our beloved dead it is important that one dies in the state of grace.
From our Epistle Saint Paul address us that “he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption: but he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap everlasting life.” It should be our goal in life to reap everlasting life. If we are to reap everlasting life let it be known that we must die in the state of grace. Therefore, it is important that we frequent the Sacraments. That we participate in the Sacrament of Confession and receive our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion only when in the state of grace.
