Friday of the
Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
(Philippians 1:1-11; Luke 14:1-6)
Passing through neighborhoods today we see signs of
death. Neighbors are not really being ghoulish
although the displays of figures hanging from trees defy generosity of
thought. The lighted pumpkins and moving
skeletons actually ridicule death because of widespread belief in the immortality. Secular humanists aside, the people believe that
the soul transcends death.
But should they really be so sanguine about it? Souls may
continue to exist, but bodies deteriorate in the ground if they are not incinerated
beforehand. And bodies are so integral
to the human person that it is hard to imagine life without them. Could we communicate without tongues to
speak, ears to listen, or fingers to type our thoughts? We wouldn’t enjoy a meal with friends to say
nothing of the satisfaction that we derive from a glass of wine or perhaps a Dunkin’
Donut. Death may be one frustration
after another until the last day when Christ will raise our bodies to be like
his in glory.
All Saints and All Souls Days bid us not to worry about
life after death. They assure us that the
same Christ, who cures the man suffering from dropsy in today’s gospel, will
not forget those who believe in him. He
will be there when they die, be it the Sabbath or not, to fulfill their needs.
