Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?... If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. (From Romans 6)

We have all lost someone very important to us in our lives.  For you, it may have been a grandparent, a child, a sibling, a parent, a friend, or a spouse.  The wound and the loss may still be fresh in your heart and mind and everyday may be a struggle for you.  But, I offer these words of St. Paul to you today as proof that you haven’t seen them for the last time and that an eternity of reunions and joy awaits!  “If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him!”  We will live with Jesus forever in Heaven!  We will be joined by our departed loved ones for an eternity of praise and worship and rejoicing before the LORD!  Let your tears of sadness become tears of joy because something far greater awaits us and our relationships with those we have lost!  Keep the faith, my sisters and brothers in Christ, because we are Heaven bound and there will be no pain or loss when we are united with Jesus and our loved ones again!  Amen!