A sermon for all the faithfully departed; All Souls' Day Nov. 2

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

I talked with a Christian grief counselor who ministered to grieving widows and widowers. She said something very profound. 

I asked her to describe her ministry to those suffering the loss of someone they loved. 

She said, "They come to me afraid, fearful of the future. How can I go on living without my spouse whom I loved almost all my life? The main work I do in counseling them is to replace their fear with love. I assure them love never dies. They will see their loved one again with a love that will be made all anew. Until the day of that joyful reunion, God's Love will sustain you."

To "replace fear with love." That is why Jesus came to earth. 

How fearful our life would be if there were no hope for a joyful future after death. Imagine what it would be like if our future was one of God's wrath. Jesus replaced that fear with his Love. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11.) 

St. Paul says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us... how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Romans 5:8-9.) 

There is hope for me who writes this sermon, you who read this sermon, and even the old sinner Rory Ryan who prints it!

As followers of Jesus, we are called to help others replace their fear with love. 

One of the greatest fears common to all humans is the fear of rejection. Nobody wants me. We face this fear at the moment we are born. We often think of childbirth as a moment of celebration, but it is also a moment of fear. 

Think of what the baby experiences. Months of floating peacefully inside of Mom is shattered by the trauma of leaving the womb. The newly born baby opens wide its arms, reaching out, hoping someone will reach back. 

That fear is removed when the love of Mommy takes her child, places it on her warm chest, giving security to her baby that it is not alone. God hard wires babies to drink Mom's milk which is the greatest act of love from Mother to her new born child. (My mother jokingly told me, "Michael, you drained me dry.")

I view death as a second birth to new life. I have had the honor to help others prepare for their crossing to the Lord. I try to remove their fear of being alone by assuring them their deceased loved ones are there to greet them. They will extend their arms in hugs to celebrate this joyful reunion. It's no different than a new born child reaching out to mom. I offer hope they can still love their family who remain in this world. Love never dies. 

I will always cherish my friendship with a young man who told me of his "life after death" experience in the hospital. He described his passing as traveling through a long tunnel. A brilliant light greeted him on the other side. The love he felt from this light was so fantastic he could not put it into words. All the pain he suffered from cancer was gone. 

He said, "I was so happy, I cried. I didn't think that was possible in Heaven." 

He described how he met other heavenly beings. He couldn't see who they were at first. As they came closer to him he recognized who they were. "I saw my grandparents and other family members. I even saw people I did not know but they knew me. I cried when I saw my dad who died when I was a little kid. 

"He said, 'I've been looking out for you.'" 

My friend passed through the veil a few days later. When I celebrated his funeral, I felt joy knowing dad and son were together again.

God wired us to be with Him in Heaven. While we are down here we have to prepare for Heaven by doing things pleasing to the Lord. Jesus calls us to "replace fear with love."

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." (1John 4:18.)
    
Perfect love is when you sacrifice for the good of another. Along your journey to Heaven, God will bring into your life people who are afraid. The sick, the lonely, the rejected, the lost, and those who have none to love them. Cast out their fears with your love. This is what the saints did outrageously well.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! ...Come and share your master’s happiness!’”  (Matthew 25:21.) 

May we all hear those words one day. Blessings...Fr. Mike.