Every single one
of us, if we are truly honest with ourselves, fears death. Yet, it is not so
much the transition from this life to the next as much as it is the question as
to whether we have truly fulfilled the Will of God in our lives, if we have
lived the vocation He has called us to live.
That is why we are obsessed with those ways in which we avoid thinking about death; in fact, two of the most popular things in our world today is vampires and zombies, but, especially, zombies.
However, if we think about it, the reason for it’s appeal isn’t because it’s something we aspire to, (hopefully) rather, it offers a false form of immortality, it offers the fantasy of a second chance.
Ultimately, though, when all is said and done, we don’t get a second chance, in fact, when all is said and done, we take nothing with us, except the way in which we have lived our lives and the way in which we have sought to love God or avoid Him by our sin.
Our Gospel today makes this very clear and, in fact, is a composite of what the Church has called the Four Last Things, that is, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. And, while these are not spoken about much anymore, the Church, for centuries, used to encourage the meditation on these Four Last Things.
Because, contrary to what the world tells us, one day we will depart this world and in that departure we will have to make an account of our lives. Our prayer, of course, is that we are accompanied by the angels to the bosom of Abraham, but that, indeed, is based on the lives we live here and now.
In fact, this is the motivation from the Church to call us to become saints, this is why the Church exists, to help us to become saints, and the way that happens is the means that Christ, through the Church has given us: the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation, to cleanse and purify our souls often so that we can prepare ourselves properly to receive the Most Holy Eucharist, the very source and summit of our lives as Catholics.
Yet, that was the rich man’s concern, that his brothers would suffer his same fate, that they would ignore the Word of God, that they would ignore His prophets, that they would ignore the means that had been given to them for their salvation.
That is why Abraham’s response is telling, he says: “'They have Moses and the prophets,” and if they refuse to listen, then nothing would be able to change their mind. In fact, Fr. Schouppe the author of the book The Dogma of Hell says it well, he says: “how long…would people on earth listen to this person who came back from Hell?...Realistically, he says, “It would probably be news for only a day or two, and after that a relative few would still be interested for somewhat longer.” But then as he puts it, “the [demands] of this life would interrupt the attention of those who need to be warned.”
Yet, centuries ago someone did come to warn us, and not only warn us but show us how to avoid the same lot as the rich man, which is still preached even today. For, if Christ can descend into Hell and return unscathed, then it is only by our confidence and our trust in Him that we can learn how to remain safe. Indeed, He has given us the means, He has showed us the road before us.
This is why we should not live with a fear of death, but, instead seek to live the life of faith, seek to become saints, seek sanctity always and not just live so as to die but live so as to live eternally in Heaven.
Live the life of a saint, be a person of prayer, of sacrifice, of sacraments, of devotions and conviction, fearless in our profession of the faith, especially in this day and age, fearless in our desire to love God above all things.
Look to the saints as models, as means of inspiration, “each day,” in the words of St. Josemaria Escriva, “be conscious of your duty to be a saint. A saint! And that doesn’t mean as Escriva goes on to say, doing strange things. It means a daily struggle in the interior life and in heroically fulfilling your duty right through to the end.”
Because, in the end, that is the purpose of life, that is why we are here, and that is what I desire for myself and for all of you, therefore, let us never forget the words of St. Francis de Sales with whom I leave you with today: “The general rule for a good death is to lead a good life.”
That is why we are obsessed with those ways in which we avoid thinking about death; in fact, two of the most popular things in our world today is vampires and zombies, but, especially, zombies.
However, if we think about it, the reason for it’s appeal isn’t because it’s something we aspire to, (hopefully) rather, it offers a false form of immortality, it offers the fantasy of a second chance.
Ultimately, though, when all is said and done, we don’t get a second chance, in fact, when all is said and done, we take nothing with us, except the way in which we have lived our lives and the way in which we have sought to love God or avoid Him by our sin.
Our Gospel today makes this very clear and, in fact, is a composite of what the Church has called the Four Last Things, that is, Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. And, while these are not spoken about much anymore, the Church, for centuries, used to encourage the meditation on these Four Last Things.
Because, contrary to what the world tells us, one day we will depart this world and in that departure we will have to make an account of our lives. Our prayer, of course, is that we are accompanied by the angels to the bosom of Abraham, but that, indeed, is based on the lives we live here and now.
In fact, this is the motivation from the Church to call us to become saints, this is why the Church exists, to help us to become saints, and the way that happens is the means that Christ, through the Church has given us: the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation, to cleanse and purify our souls often so that we can prepare ourselves properly to receive the Most Holy Eucharist, the very source and summit of our lives as Catholics.
Yet, that was the rich man’s concern, that his brothers would suffer his same fate, that they would ignore the Word of God, that they would ignore His prophets, that they would ignore the means that had been given to them for their salvation.
That is why Abraham’s response is telling, he says: “'They have Moses and the prophets,” and if they refuse to listen, then nothing would be able to change their mind. In fact, Fr. Schouppe the author of the book The Dogma of Hell says it well, he says: “how long…would people on earth listen to this person who came back from Hell?...Realistically, he says, “It would probably be news for only a day or two, and after that a relative few would still be interested for somewhat longer.” But then as he puts it, “the [demands] of this life would interrupt the attention of those who need to be warned.”
Yet, centuries ago someone did come to warn us, and not only warn us but show us how to avoid the same lot as the rich man, which is still preached even today. For, if Christ can descend into Hell and return unscathed, then it is only by our confidence and our trust in Him that we can learn how to remain safe. Indeed, He has given us the means, He has showed us the road before us.
This is why we should not live with a fear of death, but, instead seek to live the life of faith, seek to become saints, seek sanctity always and not just live so as to die but live so as to live eternally in Heaven.
Live the life of a saint, be a person of prayer, of sacrifice, of sacraments, of devotions and conviction, fearless in our profession of the faith, especially in this day and age, fearless in our desire to love God above all things.
Look to the saints as models, as means of inspiration, “each day,” in the words of St. Josemaria Escriva, “be conscious of your duty to be a saint. A saint! And that doesn’t mean as Escriva goes on to say, doing strange things. It means a daily struggle in the interior life and in heroically fulfilling your duty right through to the end.”
Because, in the end, that is the purpose of life, that is why we are here, and that is what I desire for myself and for all of you, therefore, let us never forget the words of St. Francis de Sales with whom I leave you with today: “The general rule for a good death is to lead a good life.”
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