November Mass for the Departed, 25th November, 2009 In the Old Testament Book of Maccabees we read how Judas Maccabeus made a collection among his men and sent it to the Temple in Jerusalem: “to have an sacrifice for sin offered...Had he not expected the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead...” Judas had this expiatory sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be released from their sins. (2. Macc. 12.36) So already we have a glimpse of belief in an after life and in our ability to help those who have died. | | Even pagans honoured their dead with a celebration. St.Augustine,4th century, wrote about Christian converts in North Africa “bringing wine and food, just as their pagan ancestors had done to appease the shades ofthe departed.” He continued: “The people are right to believe that thesacrificed of their Lord on the cross atones for the sins for the whole Church,living and, the dead and that the Eucharist, in which the Church offers itselfas the Body of Christ, is an intercession and pleading of Christ’s merits” (Augustine of Hippo, Henry Chadwick.O.U.P. 2009.p.70) We still come across strange opinions regarding our relationship withour departed. I remember in the early days of the English Liturgy being askedby a lady if we still believed in praying for the dead. The question rathertook me aback as that lady was almost a daily Mass goer, but somehow she hadnot averted to the memento of the dead which the priest makes at every Mass. | | In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul speaks of the love of God madevisible in Christ Jesus who “not only died for us..he rose from the dead andnow stands at God’s right hand and pleads on our behalf.” Paul goes on toexpress his confidence that nothing, not even death itself can come between usand the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The gospel we heard this evening gave us an example o9f that love in thepromise of the dying Jesus to the repentant thief: “I promise you, today, youwill be with me in paradise.” Every Mass is offered for the living and the dead, but our specialintention this evening is our departed loved ones and the comfort of those whoare bereaved. The Church intercedes on behalf of the deceased because of herconfident belief that death is not the end, nor does it break the bonds forgedin life. We believe that those who have died in peace with God are safe in hishands. The reading from Wisdom told us that the “souls of the virtuous are inthe hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them.” So it is with confidencethat we bring our departed before the Lord this evening. May they rest inpeace. Gerard Hetherington Back to Churches Home Page |