Oct 30 Fri
Am I afraid of death?
Someone asked me for an answer without euphemisms. What comes after?
“Well, life,” I replied: “Life without any limits, glory –but conditioned by each person’s –good or bad– use of his freedom.”
The answer to the problem of death is the Risen One, and to rise with Him –but you must want it seriously.
Some define themselves as “I’m Catholic, but not a practicing Catholic.”
I tell you, it is an evasive way of saying that you’re Catholic, but you struggle with it. You haven’t won the battle, and you don’t want to face it.”
To win it, you have to undergo a second conversion.
Some prefer to remain mediocre; for instance, they admit that sometimes they go to Mass as if they were clocking in for work. They lack formation: a basic understanding of what Mass is, attention to the readings and the psalm, and an awareness that during the Eucharistic Prayer, the mystery of Christ’s presence takes place –one in which one fully participates by receiving Communion.
And then, your honest professional life.
A man who sacrifices his honor for business loses both his business and his honor.
Without that, it’s of little use, although –I admit– a certain kind of faithfulness may also count.
I asked you, “Are you afraid of death?"
You answered, “Well, a little, of course.”
I don’t know if there’s anyone who isn’t, except for Saint Teresa, who was dying because she wasn’t dying.
“When you think about death, do not be afraid, despite your sins…For He already knows that you love Him… and what stuff you are made of.
–If you seek Him, He will welcome you as the father welcomed the prodigal son; but you have to seek Him!"
“Don't be afraid of death. Accept it from now on, generously… when God wills it, where God wills it, as God wills it. Don't doubt what I say: it will come in the moment, in the place and in the way that are best: sent by your Father-God."
We must look at death as a form of martyrdom: it hurts, but one says “yes,” like Jesus, whose Passion caused Him tremendous pain and led Him to complain to the Father, yet He rose again.
You must remind yourself: “I am going to meet someone –the Risen Jesus– and I go knowing that there will be a certain judgment.” The One who judges is a friend, one who loves me, and so I must trust him.
At the end of life, what really matters is having been humble enough to know that everything that came into your life, all the good, was the fruit of a gift—of the love of the Lord who has guided and accompanied you all the way, and of his Mother.
You should like to be remembered as a Catholic who sought to be faithful, who tried to respond to that gift (your Christian vocation) –with many ups and downs throughout your life– but who, deep down, always wanted to reciprocate that gift by giving yourself, by giving your life.