In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be like saying, “…those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead… can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.”
It’s really quite amazing how often Jesus tells us clearly what to expect in the afterlife – and what we must do to get to heaven. We know that we are required to keep the commandments – all of them, even the smallest law – if we wish to live eternally in the presence of God.
Today’s first reading tells of the courage of seven brothers and their mother, arrested and brutally tortured and executed for refusing to transgress the Jewish law forbidding the eating of pork. This faithful family willingly faced death rather than offend God in even the smallest way. Long before Jesus walked the earth, they believed God would raise them to eternal life if they steadfastly kept His commandments.
How many of us today would have the courage to stand firm against secular laws that command that which God has forbidden? Sadly, most of us would probably fail to fully abide by God’s commandments when facing dire consequences for disobedience to the state - myself included. We often fail to follow God’s law for lesser reasons!
We should pray for the strength to keep God’s commandments. Still, never despair or lose hope if you have failed or fallen short in any way, but turn to Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Turn to His merciful love, and He will forgive your sins, heal your soul, and renew your strength.
We can also pass on God’s mercy by praying for others. The Church dedicates the month of November to prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Knowing that in these dark times many souls have lost their way, we should always pray for our loved ones and all who have died. Entrust them to God’s merciful love, in the hope that when we come to the end of our own lives, we will meet again in the Kingdom of heaven, raised to eternal life through Christ our Lord.
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