We Remain in Christ—Always

“But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.”—Wisdom 3:1

The great Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner wrote: “The great mistake of many people is to imagine that these whom death has taken leave us. They remain! Where are they? In the darkness? Oh no! It is we who are in darkness. We do not see them, but they see us. Their eyes radiant with glory are fixed upon our eyes. Though invisible to us, our dead are not absent. They are living near us transfigured into light, power and love.”

Life beyond this short time on earth is real. We are physical beings with transcendent, immortal souls. We can find hundreds of studies of near-death experiences. People who have been clinically dead— no heartbeat or brain waves for several minutes—come back to life. They report an experience of their soul journeying to a new, higher sphere of life; they’re totally conscious and peaceful, often encountering others who have gone before them. When they return, care for their souls becomes a priority: love for God and for others.

Lord, help me to see that this life on earth is not all there is. Give me the grace necessary to know, love, and serve you in this life so I may be with you forever in the next. Amen.

 —from the book Three Minutes with God: Reflections and Prayers to Encourage, Inspire, and Motivate
by Monsignor Frank Bognanno