Hope in the Resurrection
Listening the Spirit
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
Listening the Word: John 6:37-40
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”
Reflection
Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things we ever have to do.
But the Word of God gives us strength and a powerful truth today. The wisdom writer tells us in the first reading: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.”
This is our rock, our comfort: Our loved one is safe. They are in the hand of the Almighty God.
What does it mean to be in God’s hand?
The Psalm of the Good Shepherd tells us it means peace: "The Lord is my shepherd... Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for you are at my side." Jesus, our Shepherd, is with us in our sadness, and He led our loved one through the final dark valley.
In the Gospel, Jesus promises us clearly: "I will not reject anyone who comes to me... I shall raise him on the last day."
Jesus sees our loved one as a precious gift from the Father, and His mission is to lose nothing. This is the will of God! Our trust is placed entirely in His power to raise the dead and grant eternal life.
Saint Paul reminds us where this hope comes from: "God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us."
If Christ loved us that much when we were imperfect, how much more does He embrace and welcome those who trusted in Him now?
Let us take comfort in the knowledge that our loved one is at peace. Let us keep their memory alive and follow the path of faith, holding onto the great hope of the resurrection.
May we find strength in the presence of the Shepherd, until the day we, too, dwell forever in the house of the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- When I face the pain of saying goodbye, how does my faith in God’s promise of eternal life bring me comfort and hope?
- What does it mean for me personally to trust that my loved one — and I myself — are always “in the hand of God”?
