Mass of Remembrance

Mass of Remembrance
Wisdom 3:1-9
Psalm 23
Romans 6:3-9
John 6:37-40
November 2, 2023

Tonight we gather to offer this Mass of Remembrance for our loved ones who died in the last year.  Some died as the result of an accident.  Some died of old age.  Some died of long-term illness.  Some died of a short-term illness

The constant in all of these is that they have passed from this world.  Without faith, “their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.”

That’s without faith.

Faith changes that.  With faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus we do not see earthly death as “utter destruction.”  With faith in Jesus our hope is “full of immortality.”

Christian hope is a source of strength in our grieving but we still grieve.  We know that “chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed” in Heaven. 

However, that doesn’t change the fact that we miss them.  The loss may be temporary until we share with them in the Resurrection but it is real. 

We might come tonight feeling like our faith must be weak or we would not be grieving.  That’s not true.  If you didn’t have faith, you won’t be here now.

We may find ourselves dealing with denial about how they died.  We may feel anger about the circumstances of their death.  We may find ourselves depressed because they are no longer with us.  These are real feelings.  They are natural as part of the “dark valley” that the Lord speaks of in the 23^rd Psalm.

We come tonight to pray that our loved ones who were baptized in the name of Jesus may be “united with him in the resurrection.”

We come tonight to offer this Mass for them.  Why?

We know they have died.  We believe in the resurrection but before they can enter Heaven one thing remains, Purgatory. 

Some Catholics no longer believe in Purgatory.  I’m not sure why.  They seem to think Purgatory is a bad thing.  I don’t think that.  In fact, I see Purgatory as a gift (see my paper “Purgatory as a Gift That Gets Us in Shape for Heaven”).

It is a gift because it is something we need but don’t merit on our own.  We need it because in order to enter Heaven, we cannot have any remnant of sin in us.  Blessed are the clean of heart for they will see God.  However, we are not perfect.  At times, we sin.

Our sins are forgiven as soon as we confess them.  However, they have their effect on us.  Purgatory is the place where God “fixes us.” 

Thus, without Purgatory, we won’t be able to enter Heaven.  God made Purgatory for us.

Tonight we pray for them.  It is good to pray for them.  Tonight we pray for them in a special way in our celebration of the Eucharist.

We are in the midst of a Eucharistic Revival in our country.  The revival calls us to think about the significance of the Eucharist. 

What we celebrate in the Eucharist is not simply a series of prayers.  What we celebrate at the altar tonight is the sacrifice of Jesus.  It is the price Jesus pays so that we may be with him in Heaven.  We offer this sacrifice for our loved ones who have died in the last year.

Likewise, any time we have a Mass said for a deceased loved, we are praying for them in Purgatory.  A Mass intention is not just remembering them on their birthday, anniversary, or another date of significance.  In offering a Mass for them, we are offering the sacrifice of Jesus for their time in Purgatory.

This Mass also offers us something.  It reminds that Jesus’ love for us is absolute.  No one has greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend (John 15:13).  Jesus loves you.  Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4).

We receive strength in what we celebrate.  The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus.  It feeds us.

We may mourn the loss of our loved one but we are never alone.  Jesus is always with us.  God never abandons us.

Glory be to the Father, to the son, and to the Holy Spirit…