Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
(I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Luke 4:16-30)
A few years ago the secretary of the chaplain’s office was diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer. She was told that her disease
was terminal. A week or so later, she received
another report saying that there may have been a mistake. The news was ambivalent because, she said,
she had become excited over the possibility of reuniting with her dead
husband. It turned out that the original
diagnosis was confirmed. A few grueling
months later, the woman’s desire to be with her husband in death was satisfied. In today’s first reading St. Paul gives reason
for Christians to look forward to such a reunion.
Paul assures the Thessalonians
that resurrection from the dead is no conjecture. He says that he proclaims it “on the word of
the Lord.” He does, however, state that
resurrection from the dead happens for those who believe Christ rose and,
presumably, honor his Lordship.
Christians have also held since the first century that believers
do not have to wait for the end of time.
They will have spiritual life at death.
This is far from full or complete life, but it is not without
satisfaction. What could this spiritual
life be like? Perhaps like music without
words or dancing without music. Perhaps
it will be the excitement of a blind person watching television or a deaf
person attending an opera. We must
remember that participants in this state are with God who makes all things
good.
