Death shall be no more, for God will destroy all that leads to sorrow and dying, alienation and despair. War, terrorism, and violence once more mark life in Jerusalem. Though the riots took place in York 30 years ago and though some progress has been made, prejudice, fear, and hatred still mark too much of our communal life. Though we live in an age of unprecedented prosperity, people from our neighborhood are not better off now than they were a decade ago. Poverty, hunger, and drugs mark much of our communal life.
Domestic violence is on the increase.
We can all give examples abundant of the ongoing destruction of our life together caused by human arrogance, deceit, pride, indifference, and callousness. There is much for which we must be judged. The requiem masses take this judgment seriously as did Isaiah. But this death we daily face is not the final reality of our lives. Between God's judgment and our sin God sets the cross of Christ, where with arms outstretched in mercy and love, God invites us to join all the saints in a feast of hope fulfilled and love triumphant.