Death's Tragedy Actually Promises A Beginning Of Life Anew
By most accounts, death is tragic. It marks the end of our earthly lives; and depending on our beliefs, we may fear the unknown afterlife. A recent reading from the first chapter of 2 Samuel recounts the story of David mourning the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. The passage details his sorrow, especially in verse 12: “They mourned and wept and fasted until evening.”
Many of us sympathize with David because we have experienced such sorrow in our own lives. As the reading goes on, David continues to lament their passing. His intense grief confused me. Why was he so distraught? Of course, it was sad they were no longer there for David, but they have hope for heaven. But then I realized they weren’t saved yet. The pivotal event in our Catholic faith had not occurred, and in that moment, I realized the monumental consequences of Jesus’ death and Resurrection.
The Catechism makes it clear that Christian death is not something to be feared. “The obedience of Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing” (CCC 1009), and “by his death and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has ‘opened’ heaven to us” (CCC 1026). St. Thérèse of Lisieux aptly explained, “I am not dying; I am entering life” (“The Last Conversations”).
Life after death will be brighter, truer, and more fulfilling than the lives we live now. As Catholics, we hope that God will have mercy on us and allow us to spend eternity with him in heaven. Unfortunately, it is sometimes a difficult concept for us to apply when we feel the pressing force of our grief.
This month includes the first anniversary of the death of my godmother, Kim. It has been difficult because her absence now highlights how involved she was in my life – and because I miss her. But I’ve sought comfort in this central dogma of our faith, and it has helped me realize that Kim is more present in my life now than was ever possible before. Over the past year, I’ve learned to focus less on my sorrow and more on my happiness for her. Kim is enjoying total and complete joy in heaven; and what more could we possibly desire for those we love?
Death does not wield power over us. It is our gate to full communion with God, and eternal life with the Trinity and the communion of saints must be spectacular. As we recite in the Nicene Creed, “I look forward to…the life of the world to come.”
We can and should mourn our loved ones. It shows we cared for them and are affected by their absences. But we must not let sorrow overwhelm us and confuse our perceptions of death.
