November 27 in the Month of All Souls

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who are left until the coming of the Lord will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

St. Paul writes here to a community expecting the imminent return of Christ. Well, we're still waiting! But the truth of these words remains.

As you can see, Paul speaks of death as "falling asleep," so sure was his faith and hope that those who had died would indeed wake to the glory of God at Christ's return.

Paul also reminds his readers that they need not grieve like those who have no hope... He doesn't deny the grief that loss brings but he wants to be clear that the grief of believers is not without hope - that one day we shall see again those who have died and we will enjoy their love when the mercy of God gathers us together again in the joy of his kingdom.

Paul's imagery for the second coming of Christ includes a word of command, an angel's voice and God's own trumpet! More important than these special effects is the promise that the Lord will indeed come down and the dead and the living shall be taken up to heaven.

For all who have died, who have fallen asleep, let us pray to the Lord...