Thursday, November 3, 2022

Friends,

When you go to Mass this Sunday, you’ll notice that all the readings – First Reading from the Old Testament, the Responsorial Psalm, the Second Reading from the New Testament, the Alleluia verse, and the Gospel – all have a common theme or focus: life after death.

There’s a lot of different opinions about life after death. If you ask a priest and a physician and a therapist and a teacher and a coach and a parent and a scientist about what happens after death, you might get a wide variety of answers or no answer at all.

But our faith gives us a very real and hopeful answer: Jesus.

Okay, yeah that can sound cheesy and kinda like a cop-out. But think about this line that Jesus says during the story of when He raises His friend Lazarus from the dead: “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Jesus is not just some fable or a legend or a historical prophet that made some good points from time to time. No, He is who He says He is. And He says that He IS the Resurrection and the Life.

Not only does Jesus bring Lazarus and a widow’s son back to life … and not only does He Himself rise from the dead after the crucifixion… but Jesus is the one who raises all the dead to new life. Yesterday (November 2), we celebrated All Souls Day and we prayed that all those loved ones who have gone before us in this life and into the next might be welcomed into God’s loving embrace. In other words, we pray that they may experience Life after death. That they may experience Resurrection after death. That they may experience Jesus after death.

Does that mean we’re praying that they’ll come back to live on this earth? No. It’s more profound than that. Every Sunday in the Creed, we profess: “I believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” We believe that those who have ‘fallen asleep in Christ’ will also rise like He did to new, transfigured, glorified life in ‘the world to come’ – in the fullness of eternity which is heaven.

That might sound like a lot of abstract thinking. But simplify it. At the end of the Gospel this Sunday, Jesus reminds His audience that God “is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him, all are alive.” In other words, God does not desire for us to live like robots or machines or zombies just coasting through life and going through the motions. God is the God of the living. God desires for all of us to be ALIVE in the fullest sense of the word.

So here on this earth, we recognize that Jesus – who is our Life and Resurrection – comes to us each and every day so that we might have life and have it in abundance (see John 10:10). God does not call us to dwell on darkness or pain or death (literal or figurative). Rather, God calls us out of darkness into the wonderful light of life. In places of our lives where we feel like we’re defeated, ‘dead,’ hopeless, afraid, paralyzed, or unmotivated… Jesus offers new life, new energy, new excitement. Jesus offers a sort of Resurrection.

And then in the life to come, after death, God still desires us to have life. Eternal Life in God’s loving presence. God is not the God of the dead. God raises even those who are dead to new life through the death of Jesus…. Through the death of He who is Life of the World and the Resurrection.

Let Jesus be your hope today. Let the words of Scripture speak new life into whatever situation you’re facing. There are always new mercies each morning. There’s always a sunrise after the darkness. There’s always hope after despair. And, through Jesus our Savior, there is always life after death.

More in this newsletter:

The Chosen Discussion Groups!
Fill a Heart 4 Kids - SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Camp Hope Info Session
November and December schedule of events

In Christ,

Chase Hawkins

Director of Youth Ministry

847-582-2503

chawkins@churchofstmary.org

You won't wanna miss COR this Sunday!

We all experience stress and pressure in different ways. But we experience it every day. What should you do in moments of extreme stress, pressure, or anxiety? How does stress affect us physically, mentally, emotionally? What insights and resources does our faith offer us?

Hear from Chase's wife Amelle - a medical student and behavioral health associate - as she talks about these questions and more on Sunday! Take a break from the homework, video games, tv, football this Sunday evening and prioritize your wellbeing. Bring a friend with you!

November 6. St. Mary's Parish Center. 6-7:30 pm. Dinner included.

Mark your calendars for an awesome crossover event: Camp Hope x COR!

Come to COR on Sunday, November 13 to learn more about Camp Hope, a residential summer camp experience for teens and young adults with developmental disabilities. Hear from directors, campers, and high school buddies as they share their life-changing experiences with Camp Hope. Learn more about the mission of Camp Hope and how to get more involved next summer!

All high schoolers are welcome and pizza is provided! Come with some friends and discover the joy of Camp Hope at COR!

6-7:30 pm @ the Church of St. Mary Parish Center

Contact Chase with any questions

Sign up to watch The Chosen!

Fill out the interest form by Monday, Nov. 7

Introducing an awesome new way to engage in your faith:

The Chosen High School Discussion Groups!

The Chosen is a ground-breaking and powerful series about the life of Jesus and how Jesus encounters us today. It's the first multi-season series about the Gospels and it's completely crowd-funded!

Discussion Groups will come together to watch an episode, eat snacks, and discuss how the episode relates to our lives and our relationship with God. This is a unique, informal, and powerful way to learn more about the faith, the life of Jesus, and your own relationship with God - especially if you can't normally join us for COR on Sunday nights!

If you want to be part of this new opportunity, click the image above to fill out the interest form. First deadline is Monday, November 7 so sign up today for more info!

Watch a trailer for Season 1 of "The Chosen" below!