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I am searching for eastern wisdom regarding the unlimited mercies of God toward the dead. My brother was murdered last week. My poor mother is distraught. I am looking for consolation and mercy for his poor soul.

My brother grew up in a protestant household, and was never baptized. He never rejected faith in Christ that I know. He was shot in the back of the head and back, dying instantly.

He was a jovial and jolly person, always out to help a friend. He lived in near poverty much of his life, because of family and health issues that plagued him. In his last five years, he daily provided for a 90 year old woman who lived in his building. He cooked, cleaned, and did everything she needed done. He took her for long walks, "rolls," several times a week in her wheel chair. He died providing service to someone he knew who needed a car repossessed.

In the western tradition, a baptism of water, desire, or blood is often put forth. My brother shed his blood, though not for Christ. He was helping out a friend.

I keep thinking of saints who have talked about heaven having many levels, and also of the teaching that we will always be moving forward in our love and knowledge of God even in eternity, that it is not a stagnant existence.

Please provide any teachings or wisdom that you can impart that will help me understand this in light of the Wisdom of God.

Firstly I am soooo sorry to hear this. Your family and the soul of your brother will be in my prayers.

Yes, I do believe we havea merciful God and scripture even says that one will be judged according to their own knowledge of the Word. He lived his faith out in his everyday life and sounds like a good man. We should pray for his soul and that it may pass into the loving arms of God.

All our sins here on earth have to be washed away in order to be in God's presence. When and how that is accomplished is at God's mercy and grace. Just pray for him and all those hurting because of his loss.

It is a simple messgae from Jesus "Rejoice! Do not be afraid. Come to Me". Sounds like your brother did that through his actions.

Dear friends in Christ

Thank you for your heartfelt prayers and sympathy. Also, to you who have posted in my email. I am feeling great consolation that the wisdom of the Lord will prevail through this.

I will be certain to pray for him continuously, especially for the 40 days after his death. I'm not sure of the source of the 40 days prayers, but I have heard this before. Please tell me where this belief has it's source. It is such a strength for such a time as this.

We never know when our time may come. A friend of mine told me that she believes that we enter life somehow having worked out with God ahead of time the path our lives will take, and agreeing to the trials that may be presented as part of our purification and divinization. This seems like a platonic philosophy to me, but also as if it may well fit in the wisdom of the economy of salvation. However, I do not know Church teaching on this matter. I am so appreciative of your reflections, as you cannot imagine how important they are when such a tragedy as this occurs. May you all be richly blessed in Christ for your prayers and wisdom. May the strength of each of us uphold the other. Amen.

your old friend from a while back, Tammy

Sweet Jesus God in Heaven: have mercy !

I will post again on the prayer forum.

You truly have my condolences.

-- John

This touches close to home for me. My son lives in Philadelphia without any of the small protections that money can buy and though I trust in God's will, my stomach drops into my shoes if my mind dwells but for a second on his vulnerability in a city where police sirens wail all day and all night. I have stopped looking at homocide statistics.

Your brother's soul is in God's hands, but you may want to read the epistles of the Great Apostle Paul to the Romans and Hebrews. In those great letters he touches on the meaning of faith, and those who do the works of natural law, in the service of the natural good, for his brothers and sisters, and Paul speaks of the sense in which we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

You and your dear brother are in my prayers, just next to the name of my son.

Mary

Did he not pass away while serving and loving Christ the Lord in his neighbor, whether the elderly lady or the friend who needed help? May the Lord bring His peace to your brother's soul - this intention and all the strength and peace for you and all your grieving family all are in my prayers.
CS

I am sorry and offer my prayers. What a terrible tragedy.

No teaching or wisdom can make sense of such cruelty. We can only cry out for His mercy. I shall cry out in prayer for you and your family this week.

Rufinus

Prayers.

Prayers! Remember your Brother is in the MOST HOLY HANDS of Our Lord Jesus Christ! Place all of your faith in HIS Mercy which is endless.

Jesus, I Trust In You!

"Greater love hath no man than that he lays down his life for a friend."

"Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not to your own understanding."

God loves your brother and you. His mercy endures forever. You are in his hands and there is no better place to be. Right this moment I feel that your brother is in Paradise. Take it for what it's worth.

My prayers for you and your family.

Dear friends,

Thank you for your words of solace.

"Greater love hath no man than that he lays down his life for a friend." Sophia

Thank you, Sophia, These are words my mother will want to hold on to.

Many heartfelt thanks, Tammy

Your brother seems to have been a truly Christian person, living out the life Christ told us to live. Always trust in the perfect justice and mercy of Our Lord. Eternal memory to your brother.

I agree. there is a wideness in GOD's mercy that none of us sinful mortals could ever comprehend. no one knows what may have happened between your brother and Christ at the last possible division of time. hope for the best.
Much Love,
Jonn