a little while with your spouse to our retreat center in Peebles, OH.
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Monday, November 2, 2009, All Souls
2 Maccabees 12:43-46, Revelation 14:13, Psalm 130:5-8, John 14:1-6
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/110209.shtml
THERE'S A PLACE FOR US
"Their good works accompany them." —Revelation 14:13
There is a quantity and quality of fruit that God expects us to produce in
our earthly life (see Mt 21:33ff; Lk 13:6-9; Jn 15:1ff; 15:16). Our fruit
of personal holiness and "good works" (Rv 14:13) "must endure" (Jn 15:16).
God is much more than "the Man upstairs" Who is our Friend. He is also our
Judge, Who "will test the quality of" each person's good works and
holiness (1 Cor 3:13). Some of the dead who die in the Lord will not have
lived a life as fruitful as God expected it to be. God in His mercy will
still grant them eternal life. Thus, these deceased folks "will suffer
loss," yet "will be saved, but only as one fleeing through fire" (1 Cor
3:15).
There is a degree of "holiness without which no one can see the Lord" (Heb
12:14). What happens with the above folks who are granted eternal life yet
are lacking in the enduring fruit and holiness God requires? Jesus has
gone to "prepare a place" for us (Jn 14:2). As the above Scriptures
indicate, He also has to prepare us for the place. If we have died in
Christ, but aren't yet prepared for His place (see Heb 12:14), then Jesus
has to finish the job before He can take us into the heavenly feast. The
Catholic Church, guided by the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13), has taught that the
above Scriptures and other truths indicate the existence of a state of
purification (see Mal 3:2-3) we call purgatory. In purgatory, the souls of
those who have not prepared themselves sufficiently in their time on earth
are purified for the awesome privilege of seeing God face to face. Since
they are fellow members of the body of Christ (Lk 20:38), we need them and
they need us (1 Cor 12:21ff). Let us help them with our prayers.
Prayer: Father, may I grow daily in holiness now rather than later.
Promise: "My soul trusts in His word." —Ps 130:5
Praise: Jessica practices the spiritual work of mercy to pray for the
dead.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
October 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, June 3, 2009
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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