Nov 20 Wed
Is death, the place from which we shall never return?
Yes … and from which we will not want to return. Jesus has shown us the way to follow him... to happiness.
Death is a place where time will stand still to make way for eternity, where Love will be full.
“At that point, we shall receive the Anointing of the Sick, and then the holy Viaticum. What a joy!
“Now the end. The events of our life pass quickly before our eyes as in a film. Although a profound peace fills our soul, since God our Father accompanies us, our past sins and infidelities suddenly seem immense. It is the devil, making them look bigger, trying to lead us to despair. He won't succeed!
“And with contrite sorrow, striving to increase your love, you ask yourself: ‘How have I practiced charity, and poverty, and diligence, and chastity? And what about the tongue - and order, and obedience? And your pride, and your own criteria, and your exaggerated concern for personal things?’
“Someone encourages you: ‘Take heart, Jesus and the Blessed Virgin are waiting for you; give thanks for your Christian vocation; tell Jesus that you love him with all your soul, because of the special love he has shown you. Remember God the Father, who loves you to distraction; ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with joy’."
Faith does not exempt believers from the anguish of having to die, but it fills it with hope.
In this sense, there is a moving testimony from Russia. In 1972, an underground magazine published a prayer found in the jacket pocket of the soldier Aleksander Zacepa, composed shortly before the battle in which he lost his life in World War II.
It goes like this: “Listen, O God! In my life, I have never once spoken to you, but today I feel like doing crazy things. Since I was a child, I have always been told that You don't exist... And I, like an idiot, believed it.
“I have never stopped to contemplate your works, but tonight I saw from the crater of a shell the sky full of stars, and I was fascinated by their radiance. At that instant, I understood how terrible is deception. I do not know, oh God, if You will give me a hand, but I tell you that You understand me...
“Isn't it strange that in the midst of a dreadful hell, a light has shown up inside me and I have discovered you?
“I have nothing more to say to you. I am happy, for I have met You. At midnight we must strike, but I am not afraid, You see us.
“They've given the signal! I have to go. How good it was talking to you! I want to tell you, and You know it, that the battle will be hard: perhaps tonight I will go to knock at your door. And though I have not been your friend until now, when I go to You, will you let me in?
“But what is the matter with me? Am I crying? My God, look what You have done to me. Only now have I begun to see clearly... My God, I'm leaving... It will not be easy to come back. Strange, now I'm not afraid of death.”
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