Wisdom of Solomon 16:5-14
For when the terrible rage of wild animals came upon your people and they were being destroyed by the bites of writhing serpents, your wrath did not continue to the end; they were troubled for a little while as a warning, and received a symbol of deliverance to remind them of your law’s command.
For the one who turned towards it was saved, not by the thing that was beheld, but by you, the Saviour of all. And by this also you convinced our enemies that it is you who deliver from every evil. For they were killed by the bites of locusts and flies, and no healing was found for them, because they deserved to be punished by such things. But your children were not conquered even by the fangs of venomous serpents, for your mercy came to their help and healed them. To remind them of your oracles they were bitten, and then were quickly delivered, so that they would not fall into deep forgetfulness and become unresponsive to your kindness. For neither herb nor poultice cured them, but it was your word, O Lord, that heals all people. For you have power over life and death; you lead mortals down to the gates of Hades and back again. A person in wickedness kills another, but cannot bring back the departed spirit, or set free the imprisoned soul.
If you say that you understand what I am saying but it makes no sense, I suggest to you that either you do not understand what I am saying, or that you choose to discount all views save your own. The Deutero Canonical texts cover more that the matter of prayers for the dead, but since you raise that subject specifically I will make a couple of observations from my perspective. (Anglicans embrace a wide range of opinion so I can not speak for all Anglicans, and so you know I tend to be an Eastward leaning Anglican).
I imagine that we would be in agreement on the matter of Jesus conquering the last enemy, which is death, and that in dying to sin he died once for all that we may walk in newness of life. If I may pray for my friend who is living, I think we would agree on that being important, and then my friend dies to this world, you are suggesting that I may no longer pray for them. I some small way that seems to diminish the victory that Christ has won for us, for Christ when he rose has led a host of captives. It worries me that when we disallow prayers for the departed, in some way we are denying part of the power of the resurrection message.
Kontakion
All we go down to the dust, and weeping o’er the grave we make our song.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints: where sorrow and pain are no more;
neither sighing but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of all: and we are mortal formed of the dust of the earth, and to earth shall we return: for so you ordained, when you created me saying: “Dust you are and to dust you shall return.”
All we go down to the dust; and weeping o’er the grave we make our song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
