Are you ready to die?

We get ready to die by dying.

Human beings run from death. We often try not to think about it. We push it aside for another day. We live as creatures who daily deny that they are mortal.

Much about our personalities, attitudes, perspectives and thinking arises from a denial of death. We have many ways of trying to tell ourselves that we are immortal, invulnerable, strong, powerful, invincible. We tell ourselves these things while much of our experience tells us something else: People die; they get sick; they are weak, vulnerable and helpless. We deny our weakness and mortality by:

Escaping into super-hero stories/ movies
    Talking brave & fearless (when underneath we are afraid); Being macho
        Being controlling; Being the fixers of situations; Being fixers of others; Being fixers of ourselves
            Talking our way out of problems; Talking others out of problems; Having solutions for everything
                Closing ourselves off from others
                    Being unwilling to "let it be"
                        Being believers in ourselves

Jesus' attitude toward death and dying:

Death is one of the "enemies" he has come to vanquish.

And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them."

Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Death is something he has come to take upon himself.

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.

Death is something we are to take upon ourselves:

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

There is no rising without dying. No new life without:
Letting go. Emptying ourselves. Giving up our lives to God and to one another. Being open. Being receptive. Living thankfully. Trusting in God. Movable, transformable. Obedient. Not worrying about tomorrow. Waiting. Watching.

Questions for Reflection & Sharing

What are your feelings about death?
What does the Lord say to you about your death?
How has God helped you with the task of dying?
We experience new life through dying. Can you think of experiences where through dying to something in your life you came to experience new life?