DEATH IS BENEFICIAL TO THE RIGHTEOUS

MEMORIAL MASS FOR DEPARTED APSUNIANS

AT MARY MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL CHURCH, AIRPORT WEST AREA, ACCRA, ON THURSDAY, 2^ND NOVEMBER, 2023

HOMILY BY JOHN K. LOUIS (APSU’83)

READINGS: Wisdom 3:1-9 and John 6:37-40

THEME: DEATH IS BENEFICIAL TO THE RIGHTEOUS

Introduction

• Greetings
• Death could be likened to our completion of Augusco. And as, generally, the completion of Augusco ushered hard working students into a new and better phase of life, so death is beneficial to the righteous.

Outline

• The death of the righteous is like a burnt offering acceptable to God
• Heavenly death benefits
• Seeking righteousness

1. The death of the righteous is like a burnt offering acceptable to God

According to the first reading, which we took from the Book of Wisdom, the death of the righteous person is “like a sacrificial burnt offering” acceptable to God (Wis. 3:6). The story of the two brothers, Cain and Abel, can throw some light on this point (cf. Gen. 4:1-7). Cain offered the fruits of the land and Abel offered the first-fruits of his flock. In each case, what they offered was destroyed or lost (through fire). However, unlike Cain, what Abel lost became a pleasing sacrifice to God, because he was a righteous man. That is, Abel’s physical lost assumed a spiritual gain or significance.

So, though in death, we lose this earthly life, the righteous person rises up to God like the sweet-smelling smoke of a sacrifice pleasing unto Him. However, the unrighteous person’s death is like the offering of Cain which is lost both physically and spiritually, as it is unacceptable to God.

2. Heavenly Death Benefits

In advanced countries which have well-designed retirement packages, a diligent and long-serving worker looks forward to his/her retirement benefits. Similarly, the righteous person should look forward to the heavenly benefits which are enjoyed after death. Today’s first reading mentions several of these heavenly benefits. Let us consider only four of them:

1. The joy of living with God: “the faithful will abide with Him [God] in love” (Wis. 3:9b).
2. Heavenly peace: the righteous are “at peace” (Wis. 3:3b), as “no torment will ever touch them” (Wis. 3:1b). That is, a life with no sickness, death, disaster, shortages, disappointments, pains or any other sorrow.
3. Immortality: “their hope is full of immortality” (Wis. 3:4b). That is, the righteous shall enjoy life with God and peace in heaven, not for only some days, years or decades, but for all eternity – forever and ever.
4. To understand all the mysteries of life: “Those who trust in Him [God] will understand truth” (Wis. 3:9a). That is, the mysteries of life will be fully understood by the righteous in heaven.

May our departed brothers enjoy these and all other heavenly benefits!

3. Seeking righteousness

Considering the awesome or mind-blowing benefits that God has in store for the righteous, let us all seek righteousness. In other words, let us seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness … (cf. Matt. 6:33).

1. Righteousness is experienced first and foremost by God’s grace and mercy: “grace and mercy are upon His [God’s] elect” (Wis. 3:9c). So, let us always pray for God’s grace and mercy upon us.
2. We respond to God’s grace by faith. Thus, our Lord Jesus says: “This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day” (John 6:40).
3. We respond to God’s mercy by confessing and detesting our sins, as well as by obeying Him. So, let us confess and detest our sins, and obey God.

Conclusion

May the ever-merciful God accept the souls of our departed brothers like a sacrifice pleasing unto Him. May the heavenly angels accompany their souls like a sacrificial smoke rising up to God’s presence! Finally, may God grant them all the benefits of heaven!

Amen!

By Most Rev. John Kobina Louis