Every human being is confronted with the question: why am I here?
In a society where more and more people identify as ‘no religion” it is very helpful to reflect on what our religious truth brings us. The humorous point is made that when an atheist dies “he is all dressed up but now where to go!”
The first bold and strong truth that our Christian religion gives us is that every human being is here for a purpose. There is no such thing as a useless human being. We are all part of a much larger divine plan. You count!
We reject the observation: “You live and then you die.” What they are saying , “tough, you have only got so many days and that’s it!”
We are created with purpose and with destiny. We are not a one-time creature but we are made up of the people who love us and we love them. Part of every human being is their relationships and the joy and purpose every relationship brings. You are part of the life of many others.
And when you die, these relationships do not disappear. The living continue to love and remember the departed. The departed continue to love us (we know this in our memory). Life and relationships all have purpose. They continue even after death. How many of us have said: “Oh, how I wish my mother would be here to see the kids sing?” How many spouses long for their mate, even after many years have passed since they died?
The Christian truth has made it clear from the beginning that reality consists of the living (on earth) and the departed (in heaven). We leave this physical earth in death but we are destined for a glorified life in heaven. We have a serviceable name for this. We call this the “communion of saints.” We are still connected to the departed and they to us.
Physical death does not negate the meaning and purpose of our life. Our life is destined to blossom and be glorified in eternity.
This is why it is so good to remember our departed and pray for them. We are connected. But we should also encourage people to ask the departed to pray for us. We ask the official saints to pray for us. We should ask our prayerful grandmother to pray for us as we are struggling to make the monthly manage payments or navigate through the grocery store prices. In eternity she is in a position to intercede to God to help us in our struggles.
The belief in the communion of saints is not some nice ‘add-on’ but simply the extension of our belief that life has meaning and purpose from the creative hand of God.
This November, remember and cherish your departed loved ones, whether they be family, co-workers, the people you went ot high school with some decades ago or just some of the wonderful people that you have worked with over the years. We are connected; we belong together and every human life has meaning ( alive or departed).
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