Reflection - The Dead are Zombies (Really?)

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110216.cfm

WIS 3:1-9
ROM 5:5-11
ROM 6:3-9
JN 6:37-40

I'm glad it's not often that the Scriptures for the day turn my thoughts to images of zombies. But there you have it. That's exactly what came to mind as I read these texts. Images from The Walking Dead were readily awakened even though I've seen the program only a few times. In case you don't know, The Walking Dead is the TV series where most of earth's population is either gone or turned into zombies. The plots center on the few 'normal' survivors struggling to survive in the face of overwhelming numbers of zombies. The public fascination with the program is a mystery to me. Nevertheless, its popularity cannot be denied considering the fact that it was renewed for multiple years and regularly pops up on multiple channels as reruns.

But, before I explain the connection with the Scriptures, you might also recall a movie from a few years back titled The Sixth Sense. This film told the story of a young boy who sees and communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead. He is both frightened and confused by their appearances and works with a child psychologist who is trying to help him.

Now the interesting thing about both the series and the movie is the manner in which they picture dead people. According to their film fantasy worlds, dead people are nothing like you and me. They sort of look like you and me, but they are markedly different. In the zombie series, as well as in the numerous zombie movies, these dead people are in a continual state of corruption. Their skin and flesh steadily deteriorating. Their blood slowly oozes from wounds of no explained origin. Their eyes are glazed, they walk with a shuffle, they stare straight ahead and move with jerky robotic motions.  

The dead people in The Sixth Sense are just slightly better. They aren't falling apart; but they do have a sallow look, with grayish skin and sunken cheeks. Their eyes, while not exactly glazed, have a frightened, lost appearance. They never smile and, in the broader picture, offer no affect at all. All in all, whether zombies, walking dead or just dead people, the group is a sorry lot.

Now when I consider this morning's Scriptures, the one's selected to be read on the feast of All Souls, the image is markedly different. 

     The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
     They are in peace.
     The faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones.
      Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
     Just as Christ was raised from the dead 
by the glory of the Father, 
we too might live in newness of life.
     Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.

This is hardly an image of perpetual corruption, a grayish complexion, a sallow look with sunken cheeks and haunted, frightened eyes. And, as I mentally compare the visual images from today's media with the verbal description offered in today's readings, the message of Jesus' life and death and resurrection thunders and reverberates with all the hope and love, care and compassion that our God has for us.

Whether intentional or not, the images from modern media teach a lesson of emptiness, heartbreak and futility regarding the ultimate fate of all men and women. "This is what death is like!" the teacher exclaims. It is a bleak teaching and you have to wonder if the hearts and minds of those who generated those images are actually bathed in thoughts just as empty and broken and futile.

My faith, on the other hand, hangs its hat on the promise of eternal life, the resurrection of the body, and a glorious existence in the presence of God. Hope does not, will not disappoint. I'm counting Jesus' victory to give me a joyous and an eternal life.