"Brothers and sisters, we want you not to be mistaken about those who are already asleep, lest you grieve as do those who have no hope. We believe that JESUS died and rose; it will be the same for those who have died in JESUS. GOD will bring them together, with JESUS, and for HIS sake.
By the same word of the LORD, we assert this: those of us who are to be alive at the LORD's coming, will not go ahead of those who are already asleep. When the command by the archangel's voice is given, the LORD, HIMSELF, will come down from heaven, while the divine trumpet call is sounding. Then, those who have died in the LORD, will rise first; as for us who are still alive, we will be brought along with them, in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the celestial world. And we will be with the LORD forever.
So then, comfort one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
(This brief message of hope leaves obscure essential questions concerning the resurrection of the dead. Paul will fully deal with this subject later on in 1 Corinthians 15. There he will show that resurrection is first a transformation of our whole being through the energies flowing from the resurrected CHRIST.
Comfort one another. The way of celebrating funerals in the Church must comfort the dead person's relatives and strengthen their faith in the resurrection. There is no room for expressions of despair which JESUS HIMSELF scorned [see Mark 5:40]: these are peculiar to people who consider the separation to be final. A funeral Mass without any spectacular display, when the fervent prayer of the community is experienced, produces a great impact on people who are indifferent.)
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