R.I.P. is the familiar abbreviation we use for the Latin expression, “Requiescat in pace” and, coincidentally, also for its English translation, “Rest in peace”.
In Christian tradition, it is used in reference to someone who has died. Actually it is a radical affirmation—that death is not the end of a person’s existence.
For some people, “rest” is just a softer word than “death”, a kind of consoling metaphor. However, in Scripture it is clear that it is much more than a mere metaphor.
In Matthew 9:24 and Luke 6:52, regarding the dead daughter of an official of the synagogue, Jesus says she “. . . is not dead but sleeping”, and then restores her to life.
In John 11:13 regarding his dead friend, Lazarus, Jesus says “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him,” and then restores him to life.
Both these stories are about a restoration to one’s previous life, but the story of Jesus’ resurrection is different. Although changed, he is restored to his previous life for a while, but then disappears, caught up into the glory of God, entering a new stage of life.
This new stage of life is promised to others. In John 12:26, Jesus says “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be.”
It is this promise that inspires believers to look at death almost like sleep, to trust that an awakening will come, somehow, someday, somewhere to a fulness of life beyond what we now experience.
This trust and confidence was the inspiration of the first Christians and early martyrs and still inspires, encourages, and consoles believers even to our day.
Our folk imaginations and religious customs notwithstanding, we know little more about this future than the certitude of Jesus’ example and promise.
That’s what enables us to look at one who clearly has died and say, “Rest in peace.”
All this is affirmed in the beautiful faith testimony of the Funeral Liturgy: “In him [Christ our Lord] the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come. Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.”
Although we often confidently speak of those who have died as already enjoying the fullness of the life of heaven, there is no clear timetable for this awakening.
Is it right after death? At the last judgement? At some other time in between? Regarding this, too, we “know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13). But, then, for the sleeper, does the length of the time spent sleeping really matter?
When it comes to details, no matter how we imagine life after death and no matter how commonly accepted certain traditions are, there is little that we know for certain beyond the Lord’s promise itself.
And, that’s no small thing! In faith, we consider the departed as though asleep, not terminated. We believe that we will see them again—but exactly how, when, and where is beyond our present knowing.
We are disciples of the risen Lord, and we trust in his word and his love.
Sometimes we imaginatively embellish our faith convictions with too much speculation. This obscures the power and wonder of what we believe, and makes it easier for doubters to casually dismiss our certitude as childish fantasy and outdated superstition.
We can confidently rest in peace, since we know for sure that our awakening will come.
31 October 2021