Monday of week 22 in Ordinary Time
First reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Saint Paul consoles the Thessalonians with a truth that transcends sorrow: “Do not grieve about those who have died in Jesus.” Our faith teaches us that death is not an end but a passage into the fullness of life with Christ, for those who have died in Him now live in Him. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of this hope; just as He rose, so too will all who belong to Him. This transforms the way we approach loss—not with despair, but with a hope that is stronger than death. Grief is natural, but Christian grief is always pierced by light, because the life of Christ continues in those who have gone before us. Each funeral, each prayer for the dead, is an act of trust that God’s promise is true: the dead in Christ will rise, and we shall be with Him forever. This hope does not erase our pain, but it gives it meaning, anchoring it in the love of the One who has conquered death. Let’s reflect: When I face the grief of losing someone I love, do I allow my sorrow to be transformed by the hope of Christ’s resurrection, trusting that their life is now hidden in Him?
Don Giorgio