Daily Reflection:
Monday, June 1, 2020
My Friends,
I have realized that one of the gifts of the “sheltering in place” during this pandemic has been and is to spend time thinking not just about death, but specifically, thinking about MY death.
I say this not in a morbid way, but in a very realistic way.
As a Catholic Christian who believes in the Resurrection, it is a gift to be able to have these special moments to continue to make friends with death, knowing that death is the doorway that opens to heaven, opens to the loving embrace of our God for all eternity.
In St. Francis’ “Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon,” he says, “…praised be You, My Lord, through Sister Death…”
Through my life, and through my death, I want to give praise to God!
There is a song with these lyrics that we often sing in Church: “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King…”
Under my breath, I always find myself saying, “But not too soon…”
I love life…I love MY life…I love my ministry…but I know one day all will end.
To be able to spend time with Sister Death is a real blessing. Doing so helps me to embrace life more fully, to embrace the present moment more completely.
I share with you this article written by Jesuit priest, Fr Thomas Reese: “Meditating on Death during a Pandemic.”
May my reflection and his help all of us to praise God through Sister Death!
--Fr. Mike
