Appointed to die once and then face our Lord

Even in the time of Jesus people believed in reincarnation.  Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  They responded, “Some say you are John the Baptist, others say you are Elijah, and others say, one of the ancient prophets has arisen.”  Now, it may not be reincarnation as we understand it today, but hints of it are there.  Why do I bring this up?  For two reasons, one) I wish to show that there is no such thing as reincarnation and two) to share with you what we believe happens to us when we pass from this life.

First off, what is reincarnation by definition, “Reincarnation is the religious or philosophical concept that the soul or spirit, after biological death, begins a new life in a new body that may be human, animal or spiritual depending on the moral quality of the previous life's actions.  This doctrine is a central tenet of Indian religions.” (Wikpedia)  Buddhism also believes in a type if reincarnation called, “rebirth,” a little more complex than Hindu beliefs, as it is based on consciousness, for our purposes suffice it to say that both major doctrines of rebirth or reincarnation come out of Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

What does the Church believe and teach regarding life and death?  The Church does not believe in reincarnation or rebirth (we believe we are born again at baptism, which is different, will explain at a later time) we believe that when a person dies they face Jesus in the first judgment and at the end of time, will face Jesus again at the final judgment or judgment of nations.  The letter to the Hebrews tells us, “…it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment…”(Heb. 9:27)  Some did not die once, i.e. Lazarus, but he did not come back as someone else or was reborn in another consciousness, he came back as Lazarus, though he died twice.  Hebrews speaks of the rule not the exception that is very far and few between. 

Reincarnation also devalues human dignity, God made us, man and woman as the pinnacle of His creation.  There is an order to the universe and we are lifted (raised) above all else, not because of ourselves but rather that the Word of God took on flesh and became a human being.  To die and be reborn as an animal or insect devalues us on many levels.  It devalues us in a general sense and also as individual persons.  Are the same souls just being born over and over again, are we just recycled material?  If so, is Jesus recycled material?

Reincarnation does not respect the whole person, both body and soul.  It is the body’s fault when it transgresses and not the soul’s, hence, the soul is more trapped than free when it occupies a body.  In the theory of reincarnation the body is seen as a hindrance and simply as a shell, the soul is everything, the body nothing.  Again, this devalues creation and most of all the incarnation.

And yet, some Catholics hold to this belief.  I ask myself why?  I think for a number of reasons.

1)   They have a genuine feeling of humility that they cannot go to God because they are not ready or perfect yet, they must come back and become so in order to reach perfection.

My friends if you believe this you will be highly disappointed, yes we are challenged to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, but we can never be so because of sin, so you will just have to keep coming back to earth forever.

2)   Some people simply love it here too much.  Your priorities are backwards.

3)   Some twist Scripture like today’s Gospel to prove that there is reincarnation; they do so to prove that they can believe in a non-Christian tenet and still be Christians.  It is not my place to say if you are a Christian or not, but reincarnation is not Christian no matter how much you may think to the contrary, it is NOT Christian.

More importantly for us is two things, one) why would I rather not be in heaven anyway, really, you want to come back here?  And two) who do we say Jesus is for us?

Reincarnation simply holds off our coming face to face with Jesus, I think some are trying to hold off the inevitable, judgment.  I also think that we have fallen too in love with this world.  Don’t get me wrong, we are to love life and all that God created.  He made all for our happiness, but we are to always love God more and our complete and most desirous longing is for God in heaven.

Finally, our lives begin and end with our Lord.  Jesus is our all and everything.  As I said to you before, he is more lover to us than any lover, more friend to us than any friend, and more brother to us than any brother (St. Augustine), knowing that and believing that our destination is not a return here, to be a worm, to be a bird, a lion, or a human again, rather it is a going home, to be with our Lord and God, once and for all and forever, Amen!