We are all curious about what happens immediately after death

We are all curious about what happens immediately after death

Eileen Renders

Our Catholic teachings tell us, and share with us through Catholic Bible writings, most shared by the very Apostles who knew and travelled with Jesus. The Catholic Bible teaches that when the body dies and perishes, our soul does not; it is immortal. However, we are often still curious as to what exactly occurs when we die, and what happens next. Do we lie in wait for the final Judgment, or are we immediately judged and our soul rests where God has sent us? Knowing that Jesus came to earth by His Father in Heaven to teach us by His example, and be crucified to save us from our sins, let us take a look at what He did.

Ephesians 4 7-10 suggests that Jesus went to hell or Hades to release prisoners and take them to heaven. Jesus also taught us about His rising from the dead in Acts 1, 3-5, describing how He proved His return to life after death to His disciples, including doubting Thomas.

Matthew, 25-26, and Matthew, 12, 32, Jesus discussed Purgatory, and the thief on the cross beside Him, who was promised paradise, and would be with God. Let us not forget, we will be judged. In Matthew, 12:32, Jesus said, “Anyone who says something against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but whoever says something against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven – now or ever.

Catholic Theology teaches us that the soul is immortal; therefore, at the moment of death, we receive judgment that either refers to how we followed the life of Christ or did not follow Christ. This judgment determines if we go to heaven or through a purification in purgatory. Some we know, according to their lives, may be cast into hell.

Ephesians 4: 7-10    7- But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

8- Therefore, it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, he gave gifts to men.”

9- Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower part of the earth?

 Our perception and discernment,

 God sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to teach us, and sacrifice His self on the Cross to die for our sins. He died and went to hell to save souls. He rose again to show us that we, too, will rise again after death, and our souls will be judged, and God will evaluate how we used our free will to choose good or evil, and how we followed Christ’s teachings. The merit of our lives may reflect what type of reward we receive in heaven,

And in heaven, we will await being reunited with our bodies after the final judgement. Otherwise, we will spend time in purgatory, isolated, longing for God until our soul is pure enough to be accepted into heaven.

Somehow, I believe Jesus showed us clearly that we, too, must carry our cross while maintaining our faith and trust in Him. We must suffer and die, as did He, and possibly remain in darkness for 3 days (as did Jesus) before rising to God for our judgment.