There is one extraordinary experience we all have in common. At some appointed time, we experienced birth. Not everyone here is Catholic, or American, or a resident of south Whidbey. Not everyone is employed, or healthy, or wealthy. Not everyone here is Caucasian, or retired, or a native of this country, but we have all experienced birth and someday we will all experience death. No matter how well we try to keep in shape or healthy we may be, our bodies cannot last forever.
Death is not a popular subject, particularly in our country where we make believe that people will live forever. The bottom line, well understood by early Christians, is that death is a part of life. They lived, preparing themselves for the end of the world or at least the end of their own world. Unlike us, many lived for the moment as the opportunity to be fully in the presence of God.
Our culture has a hard time confronting the reality of death. Many people avoid thinking about death, using euphemisms, saying the person has passed away or has expired. Some people view death as the end of their existence, as though life exists only from the womb to the tomb, while Christians see death as a transition from a journey marked by time to one that will remain timeless. We are not alone in that regards. The author of Wisdom, writing in ancient Alexandria 22 centuries ago offered hope to his readers that the wise and righteous person may enjoy eternal happiness with God. Contrary to the popular opinion of his times that regarded death as the absolute end of a person’s existence, this biblical author insists that the wise and righteous person should hope for immortality, viewing the sufferings of the present and even physical death as moments along the way to their future fullness of life with God.
A century later, Jesus reaffirms this by telling his listeners that it is his Father’s will that “everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” What an awesome promise! Writing in America magazine, Fr. Daniel Harrington notes that eternal life doesn’t begin for us when we die, but when we make that act of faith in Jesus as the revealer and revelation of God. Throughout his ministry, Jesus assures his followers that those who believe in him will be raised, vindicated, and richly rewarded. His resurrection is a testimony of what lies ahead for us at the end of time.
With such good news, why then do we interrupt our usual cycle of Sunday readings to commemorate the souls of the faithful departed? Many Christians argue that at the moment of death, there are only two options: heaven and hell and anyone who has accepted Jesus as their Lord will be saved. And they are right, but we believe that for many of the faithful departed there will be a detour on their way to heaven, a detour known as purgatory.
Knowing that God is all loving and forgiving, why does purgatory even exist? Essentially, this is what the Church has to say. “If we are not ready to live the life of heaven when we die, we will “undergo purification so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” From its beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and prayed for them so that when purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.
Purgatory is not a punishment for what we have done wrong in this lifetime. Purgatory is a means for us to purge ourselves of the last of our self-centeredness, our venial sins, faults and imperfections and ready ourselves to totally enter into the presence of God for there can be no trace of sin in heaven.
Totally surrendering ourselves to God in this lifetime is a step few of us have done or are willing to do, so at the moment of death, we won’t be ready to face up to the fullness of God’s awesome love. We are like the student who puts off studying until the last moment and is now cramming for the final exam. The teacher isn’t punishing us; rather we are kicking ourselves for not being ready. Likewise, when we put off focusing our undivided attention on God, that leaves us less prepared to be in God’s overwhelming presence. Sooner or later, we must totally surrender to God. We can do so in this lifetime or the next. If we are not spiritually ready to be in the presence of God at the moment of our death, purgatory is the means by which Christ will condition us for that ultimate encounter with God.
In their catechism for Catholic adults, our bishops write, “Those who are in a friendship with God but who are not fully purified and perfected are assured of their eternal salvation. However they must undergo a purification to obtain the perfection of love and holiness needed to enter heaven, where they have a heart that is totally open to God.” In short, are we spiritually ready to be in God’s presence? If not, purgatory is the means to grow in holiness if we haven’t done so in this lifetime.
We gather for Mass today because we know that our prayers can help those who have gone before us marked with faith who are now being purified in purgatory. Our prayers may provide the extra push that some one there needs for making that total surrender to God. With our prayers, they can some day join Jesus in saying, “Yes, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit!”
Someday our turn will come as well and others will be praying for us. Meanwhile in this lifetime, we continue to pray every Sunday in our creed for the communion of saints, a community we aspire to belong to. No wonder, we are moved to pray at every funeral, “May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.” Someday, purged of our shortcomings and ready to totally commit ourselves to God, we will all be experiencing the fullness of God’s love for all eternity in that heavenly community.