Lenten Meditation

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Book 1 Chapter 23: Meditation on Death

“How dull we are and hard of heart, for we think only of the present and make little provision for the life hereafter!”

You knew eventually we would have to tackle the aspect of death; especially during Lent.  But why meditate on death?  Because death is nothing but a stepping stone between this world and our eternal life.  How we live this life will determine where we live our eternal life.  We must realize that the hour of death will soon be upon us.  Because of that realization, many of us fear death.  We fear death not because of the unknown but because we are not prepared and well centered on Christ.  I think this is why we want to ignore death and pretend that it will not come.  The younger we are, the less we want to think about the phase in our life.  But death is inevitable.  It is something we all will face.  We are on this earth to advance our life spiritually so we can prepare ourselves for our eternal union with God.  Unfortunately, many of us get caught up in the material aspects of this world with little consideration for our spiritual wellbeing.  Thomas a Kempis says, “In the morning think that you may not live till night: and when night comes, do not be sure that you will live till tomorrow.”  This helps us focus on our mortality and prepares us for our day of judgment. We must realize that “the Son of Man will come at an hour when you least expect Him” (Luke 12:40).  If we are not prepared to die, then our life was not put in order.  “How happy and wise who try now to become what they want to be at the hour of death.”  So what is it that we need to do to prepare for death?  Thomas tells us that we should have “a perfect contempt of the world, an ardent desire to progress in virtue, a love of discipline, a prompt obedience, a denial of self and a patient bearing of all adversities.” In other words, we must deny the things of this world because they are obstacles that prevent us from getting into the Kingdom of Heaven.  It is in these things that one develops a love for Christ that “will give you great confidence in dying happily.”  We must realize that time is precious and today is the day of our salvation.  Today is the day we must decide to walk upright in the presence of the Lord.  Today is the day we must chose life or death.  Thomas leaves this section with the following advice – “Live on earth as a pilgrim and a stranger, unconcerned with the world’s business. Let your heart remain free and lifted up to God, for you have not here a lasting city. Preserve in prayer, sending your aspirations daily up to God, so that at the hour of death your soul may depart from this world and go to its Lord.”

A Simple Prayer

Father of life and death;

I know not the hour or the place, but I know your angel is on his way.

Help me to prepare myself, give me the strength I need to choose you over the world.

Help me to prepare for a happy and joyful death.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon