Answers to God's Mysteries
By Cicily Sunny
(Continued)

The Importance of Death and Praying for the Dead

At Gerasa Jesus answers the questions of a merchant named Alexander about souls and life in Heaven. He says, "We shall be one family also with the living. Souls are not separated by death. I am speaking of the just. They form one large family. Just imagine a large temple in which some worship and pray, and some work. The former pray also for those who are working, the latter work for those who are praying. The same applies to souls. We work on the earth. They help us with their prayers. But we must offer our sufferings for their peace. It is a chain which does not break. It is love that ties those who were to those who are. And those who are must be good to be able to join those who were and want us to be with them." (V. 3, Ch. 288, P. 83).

 At Arbela Jesus says to his disciples about death, "Like Nehemiah and Ezra, I also, announcing this truth, say to you: "This day is sacred to the Lord our God. Do not be mournful, do not weep" because all mourning ends, when one lives the day to the Lord. The harshness of death comes to an end because the loss of a son, of a husband, a father, mother or brother becomes a temporary and limited separation because it ends with our death. It is limited because it is confined to the body and sense. Our soul does not lose anything when a relative of ours dies. Its freedom is limited in one party only, in us, as survivors with our souls still enclosed in the flesh, while the other party, the one who has passed to second life, enjoys the liberty and power to watch over us and obtain for us much more than when it loved us from the prison of its body….Do not be afraid of the Lord. He calls you because He loves you." (V. 3, Ch. 294, P. 115). 

Jesus gives a lesson to a little boy named Marjiam whose mother passed away. He says, "When He frees a soul - the limited intelligence of men may not think so, but it is true - He always does it for a greater welfare of the soul itself and of its relatives. As I have already told you, He then adds to the ministry of the guardian angel the ministry of the souls which He has called to Himself, and which loves its relatives with a love free from human burdens, because it loves them in God. When He frees a soul, He binds Himself to take its place in taking care of the survivors. (V. 3, Ch. 304, P. 161). After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his apostles and five hundred other believers on mount Tabor. He noticed the sorrow of a boy named Elija whose father died and consoled him, "He died peacefully on my heart. Sorrow is over also for him. He consumed it all, and by remaining always faithful to the Lord. Do not weep. Had you not left him to follow me? Your father is with me. Therefore, by following me, you still come near your father." (V. 5, Ch. 630, P. 837). 

As part of his teachings before his ascension Jesus says, "The life of man is a road. The entry of man into the next life ought to be an entry into the Kingdom. Every king is anointed and perfumed before ascending his throne and showing himself to his people. Also the Christian is the son of a king, and he goes along his road, directing his steps towards the kingdom where the Father calls him. The death of a Christian is nothing but the entry into the Kingdom to ascend the throne that the Father has prepared for him. Death is not frightful for him who is not afraid of God, knowing that he is in His grace. But let the garment of him who is to ascend the throne be purified of all rubbish, so that it may be preserved beautiful for the resurrection, and let his spirit be purified, so that it may shine on the throne that the Father has prepared for him and he may appear in the dignity befitting a son of such a great king. Let the unction given to dying Christians, or rather, to Christians being born, because I solemnly tell you that he who dies in the Lord is born to the eternal life, let that unction be an increase of Grace, the annulment of sins of which the man is fully repentant, the exciter of fervent yearning for Good, the giver of strength for the supreme struggle." (V. 5, Ch. 631, P. 847).

Speaking about the need of praying for the dead, Jesus continues, "And I truly tell you that a prayer for the souls of the dead that they may enter into peace is a great work of mercy, for which God will bless you and the souls for whom you have prayed will be grateful. When, at the resurrection of the bodies, you are all gathered before Christ Judge, among those whom I will bless, there will be also those who showed love for their brothers who were being purified, making offerings and praying for their peace. I tell you. Not one of the good actions will be left without fruit, and many will shine brightly in Heaven, without having preached, administered, made apostolic journeys, embraced special states, but only because they prayed and suffered to give peace to the souls that were being purified, to lead men to conversion." (P. 855). 

So we have to devote time to pray for the dead for both their benefit and ours. Jesus convinces us that we will benefit from the prayer of a dead soul in a better way than his prayer while he was living with us.

Next Topic: Hell, Purgatory, Paradise and Limbo

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