Theological Foundations new file

172 Theological Foundations 1. The Ultimate Affairs of Man The founder of the congregation, which comes to the aid of the souls of the deceased in a special way, reminds the living that each man must ultimately “be destroyed” because he was created from corruptible mat- ter. 2 We are mortal and we are bound to die according to the words of the Holy Scriptures: “We must all die, we are like water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again” (2 Sam 14, 14). Father Papczynski paints a very vivid picture of the ultimate things concerning man in order to show his fate in a very sharp light and to impel him to a radical change of his life, to renouncing sin and becom- ing reconciled with God. This can be seen, among others, in the follow- ing words: “Therefore, we cannot find anyone strong enough, rich enough, proficient enough in any kind of law or knowledge that could break this law, dispense himself from it or avoid it by means of some arguments. It is a law which the Creator of everything once established for our first parents and, consequently, for each human person: ‘You are dust, and to dust you shall return!’ (Gen 3, 19). Indeed, not only can’t anyone prevent his own death, he cannot, in a natural way, even extend his life if but for a short moment longer. ‘Be it a king, an emperor, or a pope, a common subject or a lord, a rich man or a poor man, a man of learning or a simple man, healthy or ill, whoever he might be, he should remember that any given moment may mark the end of his life.’ ” 3 Fear of the moment when we will part from this world is intensified by the uncertainty as to the day and the hour of our death, “For man does not know his time” (Eccles 9, 12). But Divine Wisdom admonishes us to be always mindful of the end of our life: “You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour” (Lk 12, 40). The same One, who will judge each man right after death, is coming. “Therefore, if you cannot make sure that you will be alive tomorrow, or that you will