RCIA 8: The Kingdom of God, the Last Things, Purgatory, - PDF document

9/2/2019 RCIA 8: The Kingdom of God, the Last Things, Purgatory, Resurrection, Second Coming 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Catholic Funeral • Parts (cont.) – 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 hope in being reunited in God’s Kingdom • Not intended to showcase the deceased’s life 6 2

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Catholic Funeral • Parts (cont.) – Commendation • Body reverenced – interment preferred • Cremation permitted, but no scattering • “Eternal rest grain unto him/her, O Lord…” 7 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell Death: An Event Shrouded in Mystery • Death entered the world through Adam & Eve • Jesus transformed death into a blessing 8 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell 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

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell The Particular Judgment and the Last Judgment • Particular Judgment – Immediately follows death – Judged on our love – Given individually to each person 12 4

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell 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

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming Purgatory • See Wisdom 3:1-6 • See 1 Corinthians 2:12-15 • Blessed assurance of Heaven • Church in Heaven and on earth can help – Prayer, fasting, works of penance 18 6

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming Resurrection of the Body • Physical body reunited with soul in eternity – In glorified form – Incorruptible • Happens at Second Coming 19 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming Resurrection of the Body • Jesus raised Himself, can resurrect us • Share in Resurrection already when part of His Body, the Church 20 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming Resurrection of the Body • Mary, Mother of God, already glorified in body and soul Coronation of Mary (1360s) by Catarino 21 7

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The New Heavens and the New Earth: The Real Rapture The New Heavens and the New Earth • “God is preparing a new dwelling and a 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 21:1-6 22 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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

9/2/2019 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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 8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming 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 27 Second Coming (contemporary) by Brent S. Borup 9

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