Pope urges serenity and hope when facing the human enigma of death
Happiness awaits those who are docile to God's commandments. Today, Benedict XVI will go to pray alongside the tombs of the popes.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) Let us look upon "the enigma of death with serenity and hope". On the day dedicated by the Church to the commemoration of the dead, Benedict XVI focused his reflection in the general audience on the Christian vision which sees the end of life as "a new birth, the obligatory passage through which life in its fullness is reached by those who model their earthly existence on the directions of the Word of God".
Today's liturgy, said the pope, "invites us to pray for our dear ones who have died, turning our thoughts to the mystery of death, the common heritage of all men". Today Benedict XVI will go to pray alongside the tombs of the popes, especially that of John Paul II in the Grotte Vaticane. Benedict XVI mentioned his predecessor especially this morning too, when he greeted a group of Polish believers: "Today, we remember in prayer all the faithful who have died, our dear ones. Moreover, we remember John Paul II. On the anniversary of his priestly ordination and name-day, we give thanks to God for the fruit of the life and Ministry of this Servant of God".
Later on in his address, he said: "Illuminated by faith, we look at the human enigma of death with serenity and hope. According to Scripture, in fact, it is more than an end, it is a new birth, the obligatory passage through which life in its fullness is reached by those who model their earthly existence on the directions of the Word of God". Psalm 111, the starting point of today's reflection by the pope, "presents us with the just, those who fear the Lord recognize the transcendence and adhere with faith and love to his will in anticipation of meeting him after death. For these faithful is reserved 'happiness'. 'Blessed is the man who fears the Lord' (v.1). The Psalmist explains right after what this fear consists of: it is manifest in docility to God's commandment. The man who 'finds great delight' in observing the commandments, finding in them joy and peace, is declared 'blessed'. Meekness before God is, then, the root of hope and harmony, both interior and external. The observance of moral law is the source of profound peace of conscience. According to the biblical vision of 'retribution', the mantle of divine blessing will cover the just, imprinting his works and those of his descendants with stability and success."
Even if this "optimistic vision is opposed by the bitter observations of the righteous Job, who experienced the mystery of suffering, and who felt unjustly punished and submitted to seemingly senseless trials, the faith of the psalmist remains valid". The Psalmist wants to "transmit this faith so it may be experienced by those who have chosen to follow the path of unimpeachable moral conduct, against any alternative of illusory success obtained through injustice and immorality. At the heart of this fidelity to the divine Word is a fundamental choice, that is, charity towards the poor and the needy".
Psalm 111, continued Benedict XVI, "alongside the portrait of the faithful and charitable man, 'good, merciful and just', also presents at the end, in just one verse (cfr v.10), the profile of evil. This man witnessed the success of the just person, who is consumed by anger and envy. This is the torment suffered by those who with a wicked conscience, as opposed to the generous man who is 'steadfast' and 'his heart is firm (vv 7,8).
The pope's closing words were off the cuff: "Happy is the man who gives, who does not take life for himself but who gives. Happy is the merciful man, happy is the man who lives in the love of God and his neighbour. In this way, we live well, because we are in the happiness of God, which lasts forever".
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