What is death? Different individuals and cultures understand death differently. Some try to escape in terror while others wrestle with finding a death cure. However, death is neither a monster to run away from nor a disease to be cured — rather, death is an intimate companion helping us to further our journey to God.
Often, we think of death as something at the end of the road, far away, and not something relevant to us now. However, death is very close to us. It is within us, and we carry it in our being. We cannot run away from death — death is sure. One day, inevitably, our human bodies will succumb to death. Many people attempt to deny this reality and look upon death as the ultimate evil.
Saint Francis chose another way by embracing death as one so close to him as to be called “Sister.”[1] Death is not the ultimate evil but rather the ultimate companion, who will help us transition from mortal to immortal life. Throughout the centuries, saints, mystics, and wise men and women like Francis have had an embracing attitude toward death. They became so comfortable and at ease with death that it did not scare them but offered them sublime hope.
Richard Rohr satirically asks, what did one ever lose by dying?[2] Each of us needs to learn to let go of our earthly life so that we can begin to live a bigger life in God. The process of letting go of our attachment to needlessly prolong our earthly life must begin now. Francis invites us to embrace rather than to battle Sister Death, to love rather than to despise Sister Death, to welcome rather than to shun Sister Death. Saint Francis’ invitation not to live in fear of death or with hatred toward death opens our life to the joy of eternal life, even while we still live our earthly life.[3]
Let us make friends with Death so that we do not get scared when she shows up. Someday, Sister Death will greet us, and we will go home to our God who created us,[4] and Who continues to love us and invites us to share in the Divine life.
[1] Abbey Caskets, Francis of Assisi Embracing “Sister Death” With Hope
[2] Richard Rohr, Death Transformed
[3] Abbey Caskets, Francis of Assisi Embracing “Sister Death” With Hope
[4] Abbey Caskets, Francis of Assisi Embracing “Sister Death” With Hope
Death is not the problem but the fear of how death will get you!
ReplyDeleteDeath will come without your permission.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful reflection
ReplyDeleteBeautiful reflection on Death thank you
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring nd challenging
ReplyDeleteLet’s embrace, love and welcome death. Beautiful reflection.
ReplyDelete