PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD. November is the Month of All Souls, but the first part of Advent also highlights human mortality and death. While the focus of LATE Advent, December 17-24, is our Lord’s FIRST Coming, at Christmas … the weeks of ‘early’ Advent emphasize our need to be ready to meet Christ at His SECOND Coming or Return in Glory … to prepare for the end of ALL time or at the end of our own time on earth – whichever comes first!
Today’s Gospel soberly warns us: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” [Mark 13:33] Some are granted sufficient time to prepare to ‘meet their Maker.’ The Collect used at funerals for those who suffer a long illness will be next week’s reflection topic. [I reflected on the Collect used at funerals ‘For Those Who Died Suddenly’ in my 10/17/2021 bulletin article.] Today, I reflect on the Collect used at Masses for the Dead entitled ‘For A Young Person’ – whose time to prepare for death and saying goodbye is often very brief … and highly emotional.
Collect – Prayer for the Dead: #7: For a Young Person O God, who direct our life in all its moments, we humbly entrust to you this your servant N., whom we mourn as one whose life was completed in so short a time; grant that he/she may flourish, for ever young, in the happiness of your house. Through our Lord Jesus … for ever and ever. Amen.
GOD SEES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO. We who are blessed to live in this time and place have a radically different perspective on lifespans than those in less developed parts of the world. Life expectancy in the USA is around 77 years; but in parts of Africa, it is merely 53 years! We also enjoy health care, creature comforts, and other blessings that can make our life – and death – less difficult. Yet the fact remains: even here, some die
young. When I lead mourners through such an experience, it breaks my heart … and tests my faith. However, I do not preach or speak my own words; I speak and act in the name of God, who see things quite differently than we do, and the Church, who offers us all we need to be sustained through anything and everything.
Sacred Scripture can help us see life as God sees it: “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.” [2 Peter 3:8] In an Apostle’s Letter, we read: ”you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.” [James 4:14] There is also this pearl of wisdom: “Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” [Psalm 90:12] However, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ enables
us to see all things – even death – in a new light!
What comforting hope is offered to those who choose this Reading for a young person’s funeral: “… the righteous one, though he die early, shall be at rest. For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years … The one who pleased God was loved, living among sinners, was transported – snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul … having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing to the LORD, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness … but the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take that consideration into account.” [Wisdom 4:7-8, 10-11, 13-14]
The Book of Wisdom is one of the biblical books Protestants reject; the Church has always held these books to be ‘canonical’ or ‘official.’ In an interesting twist, the Reformers nixed these books because they supported what Catholics believe – but sadly abused at that time: praying for the dead, offering sacrifices FOR them, etc. However, they based their decision on, among other things, the Council of Jamnia: a 1st Century meeting of
Jewish Rabbis who declared that these books were NOT divinely inspired. Their ‘agenda’ was to nix whatever supported the then fledging Christian sect by deleting Old Testament references to life after death and other tenets of the Faith that were drawing people away from Judaism and into the Church. How blessed are we
to have these books that offer great hope to those who struggle to accept the death of a young person. May they rest in peace. Amen.
With God’s love and my prayers,
Very Rev. Michael J. Kreder, VF, KCHS