There is something I have observed about the dust-to-dust rite during burial. This rite serves a moment to honour a life that has returned to its Maker. A sacred moments to bid farewell to our loved ones. And wish them eternal peace and rest.
During this rite, the right words to say are: “Rest in peace,” or something similar for example “May you find Christ forever.” Friends, this is not the time to start laying curses, demanding vengeance, or making desperate and ungodly declarations like:
✓“Come back and fight those who k!lled you.”
✓“Don’t rest until you fix what you left unfinished.”
✓“I haven’t given birth yet, and you are dy!ng?”
✓“I’m not married, and you’re leaving me behind?”
Such utterances don’t reflect faith, they reveal ignorance and faithlessness. Funerals are not battlegrounds neither are they moments for curses or complaints.
As a priest, I have witnessed funerals where people say all sort of things and lay curses – ungodly! Funeral or the dust-to-dust rite is a sacred and solemn period when dust returns to dust and the soul returns to God. Therefore, the best gift for the departed soul is “Rest in peace”.
Let us stop behaving like unbelievers at funerals; turning sacred rites into spiritual outbursts of bitterness. Yes, grief is real. But a funeral is not the place to demand vengeance. Rather, express faith, surrender, and love.
Let the dead rest. And let the living become true believers.
Wake up!
Know how to pray!
Know how to hope! I known you are hurt.
Know how to let go with grace!
#witnessline #highlights #catholic
Father Daniel Evbotokhai
