GOD SPEAKS TO HIS CHILDREN

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97. We do not live like people who have no hope

God gives life. All living things have life through him. But our life lasts only seventy years, or eighty for those who are strong. Most of these are hardship and sorrow. It is over quickly, like the flight of a bird. (Ps 90, 10)

All men must die. They ask: Is death stronger than God? But those who believe are sure that God’s life is stronger than death. His love abandons no one. One man expresses in a prayer what many people hope for: You do not surrender me to the underworld, nor allow the one who trust you to lie in the grave for ever. You show me the path to life. In you I find fullness of joy. Your right hand is good to me for evermore. (Ps 16, 10-11)

The apostle Paul writes: Brothers, do not grieve over your dead as do those who have no hope. For if Jesus himself died and rose again – which we firmly believe – then, through Jesus and with Jesus, God will bring the dead to himself. (1 Thess 4, 13-14)

Israel’s prophets speak of the ‘Day of the Lord’. They refer to the day when all earthly powers will pass away because God will come to gather his people together and begin his reign. The ‘Day of the Lord’ is the ‘Last Day’ of our passing world. On that day God will transform creation along with its structures of injustice, sin and suffering: On that day the heavens will dissolve in fire and the elements will melt in the flames. What we look forward to then is what God has promised – a new heaven and a new earth, where justice dwells. (2 Peter 3, 12-13)

The disciples of Jesus are impatient. They ask him: Tell us, when will the Kingdom of God begin? Jesus replies: Nobody knows the day or the hour; not even the angels in heaven. The Son also does not know, just the Father alone. (Mt 24, 36;Mk 13, 32)

But there is one thing you may do: Stay alert, because you do not know the day when your Master is coming. (Mt 24, 42)

When the Lord of creation comes to bring it to completion, he will stand in judgement over the living and the dead. At this judgement men will recognise that there is only one Lord and only one love. They will realise that there is only one misfortune – that of being excluded from his fellowship; and only one joy – that of living in his presence.

The apostle Paul writes: God has not destined us for the wrath of his judgement but that we may attain Salvation, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. He died for us so that we might live united with him. (1 Thess 5, 9-10)

Jesus says to a father who is mourning his dead child: Do not be afraid; only have faith.

(Mk 5, 36)

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