"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.
So, then comfort one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 18
(The Thessalonian community is made up of Christians who are all recent converts with little experience. For years they had accepted the fate of being born to die. Now, on the contrary, they awaken each day with the assurance of overcoming death: CHRIST will come soon and take them to the heavenly Kingdom. They are grieved nevertheless over their dead relatives whom CHRIST will not be able to save. This is what they thought because Greek culture had difficulties believing in a resurrection of the dead.
Those who are already asleep. Those who have died are not dead, but they are asleep, waiting for the time of the resurrection, the time of rising as new persons transformed by CHRIST; we will all be transformed. The word "cemetery" comes from a word meaning sleeping place.
GOD will bring them together with JESUS. Paul supposes that he and his readers will be alive when CHRIST returns and he describes the event according to the cultural expressions of the time. Let us not forget that up to the time of Galileo, everyone thought that heaven had its place in the universe, very high above and that GOD, although a spirit, was in some way present there.
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: 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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