We have heard of some people saying that after their death, they would want their ashes to be scattered in the sea or where ever they want it to be.
Their reason for doing so is because they know that over time, their memory will vanish from the minds of the later generations, and their urns will be left forgotten in some niche and no one will come to claim them, much less to visit them even.
They may be right in that we know of cases of neglected tombs in cemeteries and we know nothing about them. Even for the niches in the columbarium, we are not too sure if the next-of-kin ever visit them.
But as the 1st reading puts it, even if a woman forgets her baby at the breast or fail to cherish the son of her womb, the Lord God will never forget. (Yes, it's NEVER forget!)
And even though we are still alive, we may also say that "the Lord has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me".
When we cry to the Lord for help, and the answer is nowhere in sight, then we will surely lament and say that God does nothing about our suffering and is silent when He hears our cries.
But the Lord God will never forget us, regardless of whether we are dead or alive.
Even though we may have forgotten the dead, Jesus said in the gospel that God the Father will raise the dead and give them life.
Since God does not forget the dead and will raise them and give them life, then He will surely do much more for us who are alive.
May we not forget to give thanks and praise to God for the good things we have in life, and in our troubles and distress let us turn to Him in prayer and trust that just as God will raise the dead and give them life, then Jesus will surely give us life and life to the full.
Their reason for doing so is because they know that over time, their memory will vanish from the minds of the later generations, and their urns will be left forgotten in some niche and no one will come to claim them, much less to visit them even.
They may be right in that we know of cases of neglected tombs in cemeteries and we know nothing about them. Even for the niches in the columbarium, we are not too sure if the next-of-kin ever visit them.
But as the 1st reading puts it, even if a woman forgets her baby at the breast or fail to cherish the son of her womb, the Lord God will never forget. (Yes, it's NEVER forget!)
And even though we are still alive, we may also say that "the Lord has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me".
When we cry to the Lord for help, and the answer is nowhere in sight, then we will surely lament and say that God does nothing about our suffering and is silent when He hears our cries.
But the Lord God will never forget us, regardless of whether we are dead or alive.
Even though we may have forgotten the dead, Jesus said in the gospel that God the Father will raise the dead and give them life.
Since God does not forget the dead and will raise them and give them life, then He will surely do much more for us who are alive.
May we not forget to give thanks and praise to God for the good things we have in life, and in our troubles and distress let us turn to Him in prayer and trust that just as God will raise the dead and give them life, then Jesus will surely give us life and life to the full.