From the Parish Priest – Fr. Romey Rosco
“I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, even though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)
As a priest, it amazes me when someone says he or she is an Orthodox Christian, but does not believe in eternal life. “When you’re dead, you’re dead” is the phrase they throw at me. Such “Christians” are not what they claim to be, certainly not by their beliefs. And Holy Communion should be withheld from them until they confess their sin and embrace the words of Christ cited above.
As we honor the saints each and every Sunday, and especially the Sunday of All Saints and today the Romanian and American saints, let it be a reminder to us that physical death is not an end to the Christian life. It is, rather, a passage to heaven.
When we pray in God’s house we pray together with the saints – the WHOLE Church, in heaven and on earth. Those in heaven are alive in communion with God, worshipping Him and taking part in the Body of Christ, of which we also are part. The saints in heaven pray to God as we do. Their prayers are for those in the Church and perhaps for the whole world (Ephesians 6:18, Revelation 8:3).
Instead of denying their existence, it would serve us better to pray to the saints who have departed this life, seeking their prayers on our behalf, even as we ask Christian friends on earth to pray for us.
Deny life after death?! It’s time to start thinking like Christians!
From The Weekly Bulletin, Vol. XXXVII No. 23, 6 June 2010
Sts. Peter & Paul Romanian Orthodox Church, Dearborn Heights MI
