Death: It happens to everyone
A Lenten Reflection
-- A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

In the days leading up to Holy Week, I often think about escatology (the theological considerations of last things), not only of the death of Jesus Christ but of people who have gone to the Lord in recent months, and perhaps even about my own escatology.

"For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night." (1 Th. 5:2) We have absolutely no control over death. It comes when it wills. Only God knows when the hour is upon us. Therefore. we have to be prepared at all times.

I've lost several close friends in the last year, some were people my own age, and it gives one pause ... and I certainly thought, the day is coming closer. I set upon re-reading that beautiful chapter "When Death Robs Us" in "Arise from Darkness" by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R., 1995 Ignatius Press. I received a lot of consolation just from reading Fr. Benedict's chapter.

Fr. Benedict tells us that there is nothing to fear from death. Especially people who have led a life of Faith, Hope and Charity, they surely have nothing to fear. Folks whose conscience is bothering them, well they could fear a lot, but then God's invitation is there to repent and sin no more. Our Lord gave us the means to come clean, the Sacrament of Reconciliation - this is one of many gifts of God - use it well, and make use of it often.

Before Lent is over, if you are burdened by unrepented sin, please know that Our Lord is waiting for you with open arms, beckoning you to come closer to Him all the time, and present yourself to the priest, the Alter Christus - "other Christ" in the confessional, where you will receive absolution if you are repentant. And for those who are not Catholic, please beg God to forgive you. Make the firm amendment to do better and sin no more. Do the best you can.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church(1), please see Article 1871 through 1876 which summarizes the definition of sin:

1871 Sin is an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law (St. Augustine, Faust 22:PL 42, 418). It is an offense against God. It rises up against God in a disobedience contrary to the obedience of Christ.

1872 Sin is an act contrary to reason. It wounds man's nature and injures human solidarity.

1873 The root of all sins lies in man's heart. The kinds and the gravity of sins are determined principally by their objects.

1874 To choose deliberately - that is, both knowing it and willing it - something gravely contrary to the divine law and to the ultimate end of man is to commit a mortal sin. This destroys in us the charity without which eternal beatitude is impossible. Unrepented, it brings eternal death.

1875 Venial sin constitutes a moral disorder that is repairable by charity, which it allows to subsist in us.

1876 The repetition of sins - even venial ones - engenders vices, among which are the capital sins.

If you have sinned, please pray and consider going to confession soon, so that you will be in a State of Grace if death comes suddenly as a thief in the night. Be prepared at all times. Death itself really isn't something to be afraid of if one is prepared for it. Surely if I had unrepented sins on my ledger, I would worry too. That's why God has given us this great Gift of salvation and redemption, through His death on the Cross, but we should also be prepared for the inevitable. God likes people who excel, who make an extra effort to live a solid life for Him and for the Father.

Peace!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS
3/14/2023
 
1. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (c) Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Citta del Vaticano 1993

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