Almost every day on my way home, I drive past my future home. \u00a0Whenever I am in Savannah, as I drive from the chancery to the cathedral, I undoubtedly go by the Catholic cemetery. \u00a0On my way home, I go by my future home. \u00a0Driving daily past the cemetery serves the same purpose that skulls sitting on desks of medieval monks once served: a reminder that all things pass away and that we must be ready to greet death. \u00a0I do not drive past the cemetery on purpose, it happens to be on the fastest route from the office to the cathedral.<\/p>\n
During this month of November we remember our beloved dead. \u00a0They not only continue to live in our thoughts and memories, but they continue to live quite literally as Jesus promised. \u00a0As Christians we know that with death life is changed, not ended. \u00a0When remembering our friends and relatives who have gone before us, especially those who have died recently, it is good to answer the question Jesus posed to Martha before raising Lazarus from the dead. \u00a0\u201cI am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. \u00a0Do you believe this?\u201d \u00a0Martha responds confidently, \u201cYes, Lord. \u00a0I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God.\u201d \u00a0When remembering the dead, we find great hope and joy in these words of Jesus. \u00a0Those who believe in Him will never die. \u00a0We hope that by remaining united to Christ on earth we will one day be reunited with our loved ones.<\/p>\n
There are ancient graves that depict a skeleton with the words, \u201cwhat you are, I once was, what I am, you will be.\u201d \u00a0The taunting words of the skeleton should not dishearten us. \u00a0Saint Paul encourages us by writing, \u201cwe do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. \u00a0For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep\u2026 for the Lord himself\u2026 will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cemeteries and skeletons are not scary and spooky. \u00a0They are reminders of that future glorious day when all the dead will rise to enjoy eternal life in Jesus Christ. \u00a0At every graveside service, during every visit to your loved one\u2019s grave, remember that in the midst of the dead, eternal life will always have the final word.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Almost every day on my way home, I drive past my future home. \u00a0Whenever I am in Savannah, as I drive from the chancery to the cathedral, I undoubtedly go by the Catholic cemetery. \u00a0On my way home, I go by my future home. \u00a0Driving daily past the cemetery serves the same purpose that skulls […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2533,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n