In the face of death of a child, every parent would like to hear those words of comfort, "Little girl, I tell you get up." In fact, God our heavenly Father, does speak those words of comfort, but our empirical nature is occupied with false aspiration to listen to Him. In Jesus, God gave us a privilege to rise again, not to die once again a mortal death, but to live forever in God's kingdom. Therefore, we should rejoice in the Lord always for the gift of life, and life eternal!
From time immemorial, men perceived death as punishment from God, and an enemy of life. It is a false perception, which brought a lot of pain and sorrow to human existence. Hence, as long as we live in that perception, we continue to live in pain and sorrow. However, for those who believe and live in faith, the Risen Lord offers the gift of peace and joy even in the face of death. As Jesus assured the official, "Do not be afraid, only have faith." Faith puts to rest the commotion of the people in the face of death, as they were filled with astonishment.
The book of wisdom assures the readers that God does not take pleasure in death of the living. God is life, and in God, there is not death. "Yet God did make man imperishable, he made him in the image of his own nature; it was the devil's envy that brought death into the world, as those who are his partners will discover." Therefore, we have to grow in wisdom to decipher the plan of God for us, and live that wisdom to experience peace and joy.
True wisdom allows us to overcome the worldly temptations, and false aspiration. The secular world, devoid of wisdom, is misleading the people to falsehood and sorrow. Yet, we continue to gather material things, hoping to overcome pain and sorrow. The more we go down the path, greater is our pain, and greater is the darkness. Unless, we learn to place our trust in the Creator and sustainer of life, we cannot hope for peace and joy.
Jesus' through His Church offers us new life- eternal life. This life is offered freely through the celebrations of the sacraments. It is our choice whether to avail of that gift from God, or abstain it because of our pride and arrogance. Therefore, in humility we have to come before God to receive the outpouring of new life- the life in abundance. Indeed, if we have such disposition and faith, without doubt, we will hear from our heavenly Father the words of comfort, "Little girl, I tell you get up."
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