THE BIBLE ON PRAYING FOR THE DEAD

Wisdom 3:1-9, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, Psalm 23:1-6, John 6:37-40

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/110213.cfm

"If before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality." -Wisdom 3:4

It is a holy and pious thought to pray for the dead (2 Mc 12:44-45). Because those in heaven or in hell don't benefit from our prayers, this implies that not everyone immediately goes to heaven or hell after they die. Therefore, when we pray for the dead, we must be praying for people in some other place, usually called purgatory. It is a place of purging and purification.

In the New Testament, the Lord suggests the existence of some place other than heaven or hell. Jesus went to "preach to the spirits in prison," who "had disobeyed as long ago as Noah's day" (1 Pt 3:19, 20; see also 1 Pt 4:6). These passages may refer to a place after death other than heaven or hell, but we don't know if this place still exists. Paul mentioned the Corinthians' practice of having themselves baptized on behalf of the dead (1 Cor 15:29). The most likely translation of this passage implies there is some place other than heaven or hell.

Jesus taught that the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven "in this age or in the age to come" (Mt 12:32). Does this suggest that some sins can be forgiven after death? If so, there must be a place after death other than heaven or hell.

We know from early Christian art that the Church of New Testament times prayed for the dead. We should do likewise, for it is a holy and pious thought to pray for the dead and an act of faith in the resurrection of the dead.

Prayer: "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through Your mercy, rest in peace. Amen."

Promise: "Everyone who looks upon the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life." -Jn 6:40

Praise: Jan lost two family members and her husband in a span of twelve months. Her faith in the resurrection of the dead is a source of hope.

A FOX CHASE? - One Bread, One Bod

Romans 8:31-39, Psalm 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31, Luke 13:31-35

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/103113.cfm

"For all that, I must proceed on course today, tomorrow, and the day after." -Luke 13:33

Do you feel pressured to "leave this place," marriage, church, neighborhood, or job? (Lk 13:31) Be careful! Satan may be trying to outfox you (see Lk 13:32) by manipulating you into changing your plans. Satan wants to push you into being at the wrong place at the wrong time. "Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today" (Ex 14:13). "The Lord Himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still" (Ex 14:14). "By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust your strength lies" (Is 30:15). "Do all that your duty requires, and hold your ground. Stand fast" (Eph 6:13-14).

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to not do anything. However, we can refuse to panic or even budge because:
   * "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rm 8:31)
   * "Is it possible that He Who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for the sake of us all will not grant us all things besides?" (Rm 8:32)
   * "Who will separate us from the love of Christ?" (Rm 8:35)
   * "In all this we are more than conquerors because of Him Who has loved us" (Rm 8:37).

Because we are secure in God's love, we don't have to hurry up, speak up, move up, move away, or run away. We are stable and free in His love.

Prayer: Father, when I am in Your will, make me as immovable as a rock.

Promise: "How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a mother bird collects her young under her wings, and you refused Me!" -Lk 13:34

Praise: Carla forgave her adulterous husband.

DENYING DENIAL - One Bread, One Body, 10/30/2013

Romans 8:26-30, Psalm 13:4-6, Luke 13:22-30

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/103013.cfm

"Lord, are they few in number who are to be saved?" -Luke 13:23

Our society is in what psychologists call "denial." We are in denial concerning our addictions and the self-destruction due to our sins. We are in denial even of killing over nine million babies each year in the U.S.A. through surgical and chemical abortions. We refuse to face the facts that our actions have major consequences - even eternal life or everlasting damnation.

Jesus challenges us to come out of denial. He speaks the truth in love (Eph 4:15) and says:
   * "Try to come in through the narrow door" of salvation (Lk 13:24).
   * "Many...will try to enter and be unable" (Lk 13:24).
   * Some will "stand outside knocking" (Lk 13:25).
   * Some will hear the words: "Away from Me, you evildoers!" (Lk 13:27)
   * "There will be wailing and grinding of teeth" (Lk 13:28).
   * Some will be rejected (Lk 13:28).
   * "People will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and will take their place at the feast in the kingdom of God" (Lk 13:29).
   * "Some who are last will be first and some who are first will be last" (Lk 13:30).

Face reality. Walk in the truth. Let Jesus forgive and save you.

Prayer: Father, "when the saints go marching in, I want to be in that number."

Promise: "The Spirit too helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us." -Rm 8:26

Praise: The Audette family gathers each evening to pray together. They pray daily for each of their godchildren.

HOPE CHEST - One Bread, One Body

Romans 8:18-25, Psalm 126:1-6, Luke 13:18-21

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102913.cfm

"Creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but by Him Who once subjected it; yet not without hope." -Romans 8:20

We should not compare ourselves with other people, but we should compare our present sufferings "with the glory to be revealed in us" (Rm 8:18). We Christians may suffer greatly because we follow Jesus Who suffered greatly. However, our sufferings should not be due to our sin (see 1 Pt 4:15); they should be in the pattern of Jesus' death (see Phil 3:10). Although these sufferings hurt us, we consider them to be nothing compared with our hope to rise from the dead, see Jesus face to face, and live forever with Him in the perfect joy of heaven.

When we hope in the Lord, we compare the present with the future in such a way that we rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4:4). Hope makes it possible for us to rejoice in proportion to our redemptive suffering (1 Pt 4:13). In hope, sufferings don't crush us but strengthen us (see Rm 5:3-5). Hope helps us to be free and unmanipulated by the threat of suffering. Hope energizes us and frees us from being paralyzed by fear. "In hope we were saved. But hope is not hope if its object is seen; how is it possible for one to hope for what he sees? And hoping for what we cannot see means awaiting it with patient endurance" (Rm 8:24-25). "Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, He Who in His great mercy gave us new birth; a birth unto hope" (1 Pt 1:3).

Prayer: Father, may my hope overshadow my sufferings.

Promise: "What does the reign of God resemble? To what shall I liken it? It is like mustard seed which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a large shrub and the birds of the air nested in its branches." -Lk 13:18-19

Praise: The Horton family surrounded their dying grandmother with rosaries, prayer, confidence, and peace as she received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick hours before her death. "Happy now are the dead who die in the Lord" (Rv 14:13)

PATRON OF THE IMPOSSIBLE - One Bread, One Body

Ephesians 2:19-22, Psalm 19:2-5, Luke 6:12-16

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102813.cfm

Jesus "selected twelve of them to be His apostles...Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who turned traitor." -Luke 6:13, 15-16

Jude has become known as the patron of the impossible. His partner among the apostles was "Simon called the Zealot." A Zealot was what we would call a terrorist or guerilla. Consequently, Jude's first partner was probably an impossible person. Maybe that's how he became patron of the impossible.

No matter how impossible you are, you probably aren't any more impossible than Simon, Jude's namesake Judas, or the other Simon, whose name Jesus changed to Peter. Thus, if you team up with Jude, he can probably help you. He is used to impossible people, and you aren't any worse than any other of the countless impossible people he's worked with over centuries.

Jude is an apostle, a canonized saint, and part of the foundation of the Church (Eph 2:20). Even some of the impossible people he has worked with are saints - for example, Simon. Ask Jude to pray for and work with you. He will lead you to totally commit your life to Jesus. That is when the impossible starts to happen. St. Jude, pray for us.

Prayer: Father, may I firmly believe that nothing is impossible for You (Lk 1:37).

Promise: "Through [Jesus] the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape as a holy temple in the Lord; in Him you are being built into this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit." -Eph 2:21-22

Praise: Sts. Simon and Jude "went from village to village, spreading the good news everywhere and curing diseases" (Lk 9:6).

GOING HOME FROM CHURCH - One Bread, One Body, 10/27/2013

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23, Luke 18:9-14

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/102713.cfm

"Believe Me, this man went home from the temple justified but the other did not." -Luke 18:14

When you walk out of church today, will you be justified? Or will you walk away sad? (see Mk 10:22) We are justified, forgiven, and free when we serve God willingly (Sir 35:16). It is our Sunday obligation to attend church, but we must go beyond this and serve God willingly if our petition is to reach the heavens (Sir 35:16). Is your Sunday obligation also a Sunday privilege? If not, you will not leave church justified.

We will go home from church justified and our prayer will pierce the clouds if we are lowly (Sir 35:17). Jesus, God Himself, was lowly in emptying Himself and becoming a human being (see Phil 2:7). He was so lowly as to die on the cross for love of us. He is so lowly as to come to us in Holy Communion under the appearance of bread and wine. If we humble ourselves, admit we are sinners, and cry out for God's mercy (see Lk 18:13), we become lowly and justified.

The willing and the lowly go home from church and go home to heaven justified.

Prayer: Father, do whatever You must in me so that You may do whatever You will through me.

Promise: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on a merited crown awaits me." -2 Tm 4:7-8

Praise: Alleluia! Jesus has risen and will raise me from the dead! Alleluia!