JOSEPH M. Dias would have us know that “when our life’s journey comes to an end, it is the parish community that gathers together to bid us farewell and pray to the angels to accompany us to the realms above where the Lord Jesus is waiting to welcome us.”

That he is purporting to present an ecclesiastical tenet is obvious by his references to Vatican II throughout the letter (It is in the parish that we are received into the church; GC July 14). That he is doing so, as against presenting a Christian one, however, is confirmed by the clear absence of any Biblical authority in support of his statements. In short we can be sure of the non-Christian nature of the idea that “angels accompany us, [upon death], to the realms above.”

But he does say, contrariwise, that the “Lord Jesus is waiting to welcome us” there and then; in which he has, inadvertently I suspect, pitted Vatican II against the Bible. Concerning death, which then is the greater authority?

John 11: Lazarus dies. Jesus waits 4 days before going to resurrect him. Jesus says, “Our friend Lazarus SLEEPS, but I go that I may wake him up.” Jesus commands, “Lazarus, come forth!” Lazarus comes out — from the GRAVE. (Is Vatican II greater than the Word of God?)

1 Thessalonians 4: The Thessalonians are devastated by the death of loved ones. Paul assures them, “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who SLEEP in Jesus … For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the DEAD in Christ will RISE first.” (Is Vatican II greater than an Apostle of our Lord?)

Ecclesiastes 12: Solomon warns, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before … the dust [returns] to the earth as it was, and the spirit [returns] to God who gave it.” As Psalm 146 says of a man who dies: “HIS SPIRIT departs, [but] HE returns to his earth; in that very day HIS PLANS perish.” (Is Vatican II greater than King Solomon?)

Daniel 12: A certain Holy One is telling Daniel what is to happen at the END of time. He says, “many of those who SLEEP in the dust of the earth shall AWAKE: some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Specifically to Daniel he says, “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall REST, and will ARISE to your inheritance at the END of the days.” (Is Vatican II greater than an Angel of God?)

Genesis 3: Adam and Eve believe the Adversary, act on such belief and find out to their horror that the glory of God has left them. They hide, but are called out by God. To Adam, God says: “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. For out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” He drives them out; and places cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turns every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. (Is Vatican II greater than Almighty God?)

From where then did the idea come that “when our life’s journey comes to an end, it is the parish community that gathers together to bid us farewell and pray to the angels to accompany us to the realms above where the Lord Jesus is waiting to welcome us”?

Consider the matter, and ponder it carefully, for it is written, “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die.'”
MARK A.C. BLAIR