9/2/2019

RCIA

8: The Kingdom of , the Last Things, , ,

8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Kingdom of God

• “Thy Kingdom come” (Mt 6:10) – The Kingdom must reign in 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

• 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 • Look for fulfillment of God’s promises – “He will wipe away every tear,” no pain, mourning (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 & 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 • “ grain unto him/her, O Lord…”

7

8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and

Death: An Event Shrouded in Mystery • Death entered the world through Adam & Eve • 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 and the • 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 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 • God does not force us to love Him • Death in a state of mortal • A place of unimaginable pain and suffering • , fallen , 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 • 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 ’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 and the New Earth: The Real

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 will be violent & horrifying (cf. 2 Pt 3:7) – Warfare, famines, natural calamities – Loss of faith, internal betrayals & hatreds, false prophets, false – 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 • Not to be anxious but to be prepared – Be vigilant and have ongoing conversion

Second Coming (contemporary) by Brent S. Borup 27

9 9/2/2019

8: Kingdom of God, Last Things, Resurrection, Second Coming

28

10