If you were told that you were going to die today, or within the week, what would you do? One thing for sure is that all our priorities would change. Worldly things would suddenly become irrelevant. I’m sure for many people family would become very important. I’m sure the concern of what will happen at death and after death would also come to the forefront of your thinking.
Throughout Jesus’ public ministry, He used many stories and parables to remind us that we always need to be ready to die, because we never know when this will happen.
Every day on the roads approximately 107 people die in car wrecks, just in this country. That means that yesterday, over 100 people left their homes to go to work, or shopping, or to drop off their kids somewhere and one moment later they were standing before Jesus for judgement. One second you are in your car, the next second you are before Jesus. It’s pretty shocking when you think of it that way and yet it happens to people every day of the week.
A few years ago I was driving somewhere in Ireland and I came across a man who need a ride. He was a musician and made a living by busking on the streets. Not an easy way of life. He had practically all his possessions with him. He told me he knew over 350 songs, which was impressive. When he realized that I was a priest, he began asking me about religion. I can’t remember much of what he said except for one thing. He said that he wasn’t very religious but that he preferred to stay out of it and sit on the fence. When I asked him about death and coming before God, he said that he would just plead ignorance. That was the thing that struck me the most. He said, “I’ll just plead ignorance.”
I suppose if God were just another human being, we might get away with pleading ignorance, but since God knows everything about us, including our motivations, all the things that have influenced us and how free or not we are to make choices, I don’t think that pleading ignorance will be much use! This is not to focus on the negative as if we should be afraid of God, but it is reality. On the contrary, the Lord loves us and wants to help us in every way possible. He knows our weaknesses and what we struggle with, but He also knows when we avoid responsibility. There is no pleading ignorance before God and this is what the Lord keeps reminding us.
Jesus taught parable after parable reminding us to be ready for death and never take it for granted that we can sort everything out at the last second.
In St. Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 25: 1-13), Jesus gives the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, also called bridesmaids in another version of the story. One of the traditions of the time was that after a man and a woman were betrothed to each other, when they were legally married, they remained apart for about another year, during which time they would both be able to make preparations for their wedding and new life together. The man would go and build an extension onto his father’s house, where they could live together. When the time was right, the father of the groom would announce to his son that it was time to go and collect his bride. This would happen in the middle of the night. They would then go to the bride’s house, where the bride and bridesmaids would be waiting. They would already be wearing their wedding garments, ready for when the groom would come, although they didn’t know exactly when that would happen. Since it was in the middle of the night, they would need to have lighted lamps. They would then leave the bride’s house and go for the wedding celebration. If you weren’t ready at that time, you would be left behind. The parable says that five of the bridesmaids were wise and brought enough oil for their lamps to last as long as needed. The foolish ones did not and when the groom arrived they were almost out of oil. They asked the wise bridesmaids to lend them some oil, but they said ‘no’ as there may not be enough for both of them. Then Jesus says those who were ready went into the feast. When the other bridesmaids came back having gotten enough oil, the wedding part had left and gone into the feast. And then there is the line that says, ‘And the door was locked.’ They were left behind. And when they ask to be let in, the groom says, ‘I do not know you.’ There was no relationship there. They were casual and presumptuous. Jesus finishes by saying, ‘So stay awake. You do not know the day or the hour when the bridegroom will come.’
This is a strong message for all of us. Leaving it until the last minute to prepare may be too late. In this parable Jesus says it was too late. Our life on earth is the time to prepare to be with the Lord. He gives us a whole lifetime to prepare, so we can’t say we didn’t have enough time. That is why we must not allow ourselves to become so immersed in the things of the world, that we forget the bigger picture. We have to be practical and provide for our families and attend to our work, but we also must not forget the things of God.
The Lord guides us in so many ways, especially through the Scriptures, which is why we read them at every mass. They are constantly teaching us what God expects of us and what is required of us. We cannot say I didn’t know what to do, as the Lord gives us very specific instructions as to how to live and always to be ready.
In the book of Exodus (40:16) when God had given Moses instructions as to how to build the tabernacle, it says ‘Moses did exactly what the Lord requested of him.’ Exactly as the Lord told him, not roughly. In Genesis (6:22), when God gave Noah instructions about the ark, it says that Noah did precisely as the Lord had told him.’ The Lord shows us exactly how to live in the way that will help us the most, so that we can enjoy our life on earth and so that we will be ready to meet him when our time comes.
I know many people of faith who have often told me that they long to meet the Lord. They are looking forward to that day more than anything else. If you have faith that makes total sense. If we are living in fear of this life coming to an end, then we are not hearing what the Lord is saying to us. It is not something to be afraid of. If we have made any effort to prepare for it, then it is something we can look forward to, but we don’t know when that day will come. It may be after 80 or more years, or it may be when we are young. ‘Therefore, stay awake, for you know not the day nor the hour.’
That is also why it is so important that we try and pass on our faith to the next generation. Think of all the things you do for your children to give them the best possible chance in the world. How much time do you take to teach them about the more important things: the reality of God, how God tells us to live, what is right and wrong and that we will all be held accountable? To ignore this is to do them a great disfavor. Being successful in a worldly career is good and we should develop our talents as the Lord has given them to us, but being prepared in the things of God is far more important.
As our relationship with God grows, we will become less and less afraid of death, because instead of seeing it as the end of our life, we will begin to see it as the beginning of the life we are called to. It will be a relief that our time of struggle is over. This is also what St. Paul is talking about in the second reading:
“We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope.”
It is also so important that we pray for the dead. Often at funerals you will hear people say, ‘He is in heaven now.’ That may be true, but many people will die still with some sin on their soul. No sin can exist in God’s presence. It is a contradiction. So if we die with some sin on our soul, we need to be purged of it, which is what we call Purgatory. It is a mercy of God which allows us to go through any final purification we need before we can come into God’s presence. Unfortunately many people disregard the idea of Purgatory, but think of it this way: this is an extreme example, but it makes the point.
Imagine that Hitler hadn’t committed suicide, but that he was murdered. But the day before his death he had a moment of enlightenment and realized the terrible evil he had committed. He then repented and begged God’s mercy. God promises mercy to anyone who sincerely asks for it. If he died the next day, would he go straight to heaven? Somehow we know that that wouldn’t make sense. It would be a mockery of God’s justice. He would have to go through some kind of atonement or purification before he could come into God’s presence. That is what Purgatory is.
We believe that we can also help those who are in Purgatory by praying for them and having masses offered for them. That’s why we dedicate the month of November to praying for the holy souls and we pray for the dead in every mass. Through our prayers their purification can happen quicker, which is a gift of God responding to our efforts. So pray for those who have died.
When I die I would much rather people pray for me and have masses offered for me, than just say nice things about me.
The Lord wants us to have hope and not to be afraid, but we must listen to what He tells us, so that we are not caught off guard.
“Therefore I tell you, stay awake, for you neither know the day or the hour.”
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