The question of the eternal predestination of all humans after their mortal existence is a nagging question which occupies anyone who is born into the world. There is usually association of the grace as a place of no life (nothingness) and complete void. In this case when we are confronted with the reality of death, we remember that there is a time when we are full and bulling with life, and a time when life ceases to be. In this case where does the soul of the decease one proceed to…, Is it to the mere soil and clay? This will be atrocious. Is it the case that after all the human achievements, one goes into oblivion?
The church uses this opportunity of the celebration to raise the hope of the faithful about the eternal predestination of all the faithful departed. In the Eucharistic preface of Christian death, it states “Lord for your faithful people life is changed, not ended when the body of our eternal dwelling lies in death we gain an Everlasting dwelling in heaven”. Death is the cessation of the mortal existence of the human person and the beginning of an immortal life of the deceased. It is taken by the study of eschatology that the eternal predestination of the soul of the human person is influenced by the kind of life one has lead in the course of his physical and corporate existence. The good, moral and ethical existence leads to an immoral life of eternal bliss and joy, while immodest and unexamined life is the introduction to the life of eternal perdition and punishment.
Our pre-occupation is where the soul of the faithful proceeds after their pilgrimage life here on earth. The Book of Wisdom (3:1-9) gives us a wonderful clue in this direction. “The souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them. To the unenlightened they appear to die. Their departure was regarded as a disaster, their leaving us as annihilation, but they are at peace”. God desires and prepares a suitable and eternal wonderful home for his people. Therefore it is not necessary to begin to think of erecting a mausoleum mansion in which we will be buried in such that it becomes a home for us after death. Our attention should be drawn to the fact that our homes is created and made for us by God, eternal incomprehensive but a home to delight us.
Jesus tells us in John (14:1-3)”Do not let your heart be troubled. You trust in God trust also in me. In my fathers house there are many places to live in……I am going now to prepare a place for you and after I have gone and prepared you a place. I shall return to take you to myself”. In this way Jesus clearly points to us about the great preparation he has in store for those who follow him .There is a great reward that accompanies them after their heroic witnessing here on earth. No wonder St.Paul will exclaim (1 Cor.2:9)”what no eye has see no ear has heard what the mind of man cannot visualize all that God has prepared for those who love him……”
Upon these testimonies of sacred scripture, we know we have a homeland with God our father and his homeland belong to us if we live, move and have our being quite rooted in him. In the Eucharistic preface of the dead it states “he chose to die that he might free all man from dying. He gave his life that we may live forever”. Another of this preface says “Death is the just reward for our sins, yet when at last we die, your loving kindness calls us back to life in company with Christ whose victory is our redemption.” Indeed of our own merit we cannot ascend into a glorious eternal life that God has in store for us…, But by our unmeritous but God Gratuitous grace we are justified in the sight of God. Therefore our celebration is not far from having these departed ones in prayer so that, through their own human fragility they cannot be justified. But with our prayer for them God will tender mercy and grant them a place of joy and peace. As a militant church we must intensify our prayers for them and ask God to look on them with mercy.