From: Gary
A member is loosing their father to cancer.
Quote:
Father;
Do you think you can find time for some kind words on this? Death is never easy to understand and it always hard to accept.
“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?
O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? (1Cor 15, 55)
Gary,
You are right. Death is never easy to understand.
When we are reflecting on the fact of death in our lives, each one of us may say, that we are in the same boat. Hopefully this boat is not sinking.
The people of different philosophical systems and of various religions has been wondering and pondering regarding the mystery of death and the life after death. Today, if we go online to find out more info on this topic, probably there will be not enough time in our lives to study it.
And I can assure you that not all of the information will be true.
So, what is the best source which would give us the true teaching on the meaning and understanding of death in our human experiences but also the reality of death in whole of creation?
As a believer in God, the priest and pastor I have experience the reality of death in variety of ways: in passing of my family members, friends and those entrusted to my pastoral care.
I have found the strength to deal with death in the words of the Sacred Scripture – the Holy Bible – which is the Word of God for us, for me and for you. Especially the words and actions of our Lord Jesus bring hope and the true meaning, the true picture of the mystery of death.
Death is …always hard to accept.
It is always and it will always be hard to accept for each one of us but especially for those who do not take a chance to look at the Son of Man, Jesus Christ who became a man like us but sin. He humbled himself to share in our Humanity that we may come to share in his Divinity.
It was hard to accept the death even for Jesus himself.(Luke 22, 39-44)
I would encourage you to meditate on the prophet Isaias, chapter 53. Here are some of the passages:
“Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our iniquities; he was bruised for our sins…”
And St. Paul to the Hebrews 4, 14-16:
“…For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin…”
May the words of our Lord Jesus himself encourage us to surrender to Him, especially in the time of pain and sorrow and in the hour of our death:
(Mark 10, 45) “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
(John, chapter 14) “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.”
“I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.
No one comes to the Father but through me.”
I would encourage you to meditate on the Gospel according to John, chapters 14, 15, 16 especially John 17 which is the Last Testament of Jesus – Jesus’ prayer a day before his death.
(John 17)”…Father, I will that where I am, they also whom you has given me may be with me; in order that they may behold my glory, which you have given me, because you have loved me before the creation of the world…”
And another words of Jesus:
(John 11, 25-26) “I AM THE RESURECTION AND THE LIFE;
HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, EVEN IF HE DIE, SHALL LIVE;
AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME, SHALL NEVER DIE.
DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”
May this anonymous poem helps us in our faith journey toward our true home of our Father who art in heaven.
WHAT IS DYING?
The ship sail and I stand watching
Till she fades on the horizon,
and someone at my side says,
“She is gone.”
Gone where?
Gone from my sight, that is all;
She is just as large as when I saw her.
The diminished size and total loss of sight
Is in me, not in her,
and just at that moment,
when someone at my side says,
“She is gone,”
there are others who are watching
her coming,
and other voices take up a glad shout,
“There she comes!”
And that is dying.
Anonymous
I pray that these few words of reflection will help you and me as we cruise on the same boat toward the eternity.
Blessings and prayers
Father Walleye 
