RCIA 11/12/2018. Session 8: The Kingdom of God, the Last Things, Purgatory, Resurrection, Second Coming. Thy Kingdom come (Mt 6:10)

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1 RCIA Session 8: The Kingdom of God, the Last Things, Purgatory, Resurrection, Second Coming The Kingdom of God Thy Kingdom come (Mt 6:10) The Kingdom must reign in Heaven and on earth The Kingdom of God in Heaven existed from all eternity Prepared for those who love Him 2 The Kingdom of God The Church is on earth the seed and beginning of that kingdom (CCC 541) In the world but not of the world Every person called: Make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19) Condition to enter: conversion of heart and behavior follow God s will 3 1

2 The Catholic Funeral Christ s Paschal Mystery is proclaimed Taught to remember the dead Express hope of being together in God s kingdom Encouraged to give witness by our lives Look for fulfillment of God s promises He will wipe away every tear, no pain, mourning death (Rev 21:4) 4 The Catholic Funeral Parts Vigil for the Deceased Turn to God s Word as source of faith and hope Keep watch and find strength in communal prayer Ask God's mercy for the deceased Receive consolation from God s presence Express belief in eternal life & resurrection of the body 5 The Catholic Funeral Parts Funeral Mass Theme: Christ s Resurrection Commending the deceased to God s mercy Seeking strength in the Paschal Mystery Recall sharing in Paschal Mystery through Baptism Look forward to our own resurrection Express hoe in being reunited in God s Kingdom Not intended to showcase the deceased s life 6 2

3 11/12/2018 The Catholic Funeral Parts Commendation Body reverenced interment preferred Cremation permitted but no scattering Eternal rest grain unto him/her, O Lord 7 Death: An Event Shrouded in Mystery Death entered the world through Adam & Eve Jesus transformed death into a blessing 8 Death: An Event Shrouded in Mystery (cont.) Those who die in grace share in Christ s Resurrection (see CCC 1006, 1 Cor 15:21) 9 3

4 Death: An Event Shrouded in Mystery (cont.) Teaching of Christ gives us firm hope and assurance in preparing for our own death and in coping with the death of those we love O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? (1 Cor 15:54-55) 10 Death: What We Learn from the Funeral Liturgy Bonds of love continue to remain strong Pilgrims on earth, true homeland in Heaven Glorified body to come on the last day 11 The Particular Judgment and the Last Judgment Particular Judgment Immediately follows death Judged on our love Given individually to each person 12 4

5 The Particular Judgment & Last Judgment (cont.) Last Judgment He will come again to judge the living & the dead The dead will be raised Bodies returned 13 Heaven: Life in Pure Love Entering into perfect love True happiness: natural desire fulfilled Must be in God s grace (having not rejected God) Must be perfect to enter Sacrifice and sacraments needed 14 Hell: Eternal Separation from the Trinity God does not force us to love Him Death in a state of mortal sin A place of unimaginable pain and suffering Satan, fallen angels, all who have rebelled Greatest suffering: eternal separation from God 15 5

6 Jesus Christ: Our Just and Merciful Judge Throw ourselves on the mercy of Jesus Sins forgiven if repented of Always calling us back to intimate and loving relationship 16 The Four Last Things: Purgatory One of the Lord s greatest mercies Must be transformed completely by love before we can feel at home in heaven Must be perfect in purity and holiness Purification can happen through suffering Repented sins may still require reparation 17 The Four Last Things: Purgatory See Wis 3:1-6 See 1 Cor 2:12-15 Blessed assurance of Heaven Church in Heaven and on earth can help Prayer, fasting, works of penance 18 6

7 The Four Last Things: Resurrection of the Body Physical body reunited with soul in eternity In glorified form Incorruptible Happens at Second Coming 19 The Four Last Things: Resurrection of the Body Jesus raised Himself, can resurrect us Share in Resurrection already when part of His Body, the Church 20 The Four Last Things: Resurrection of the Body Mary, Mother of God, already glorified in body and soul Catarino. Coronation of Mary. 1360s. Tempera on panel, 120 x 75 cm. The Hermitage, St. Petersburg 21 7

8 The Four Last Things: The New Heavens and the New Earth: The Real Rapture The New Heavens and the New Earth God is preparing a new dwelling and an new earth in which righteousness dwells, in which happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men (CCC 1048) Intimate communion with God lost with Adam Visible universe will be transformed and returned to its original state All over OT and NT Read Rev 21: The Four Last Things: The New Heavens and the New Earth: The Real Rapture The New Heavens and the New Earth (cont.) Those who have been saved will experience the unity of humanity that God had willed from the beginning of creation, and the vision of God will be the ever-flowing well-spring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion (CCC 1045) 23 The Four Last Things: The New Heavens and the New Earth: The Real Rapture What, Then, of Tribulation & Earthly Rapture? End times will be violent & horrifying (cf. 2 Pt 3:7) Warfare, famines, natural calamities Loss of faith, internal betrayals & hatreds, false prophets, false Messiahs But many will be saved (Rev 7:9, 14) Speculation on timing discouraged by Church 24 8

9 The Four Last Things: The New Heavens and the New Earth: The Real Rapture What, Then, of Tribulation & Earthly Rapture? (c.) Rapture Focus on Fear Hope of escape from suffering Following the Resurrection of the dead, those who are left alive shall be caught up together with [the dead in Christ] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17) 25 The Four Last Things: The New Heavens and the New Earth: The Real Rapture What, Then, of Tribulation & Earthly Rapture? (c.) Rapture (cont.) Jesus never promised to spare us suffering Not a secret coming -- all will know (cf. Mt 24:27) Thousand year reign of Christ before Last Judgment? May be symbolic of these last times between Jesus comings Do not assume a Heaven on earth before Jesus comes 26 The Second Coming of Christ Christ is coming back to subject all things to Himself Return will mark the end of time Not to be anxious but to be prepared Be vigilant and have ongoing conversion Second Coming, Brent S. Borup, contemporary 27 9

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