November, by the very nature of this fall month, along with meditative character of the All Saints Day and the All Souls, makes us look towards the final things. Through faith we know that they are final for us as we live in this age, in these bodies, on this old earth. One day we will have to open the door leading us out of here.
Death is common experience of all of us, and the thought of it can be pretty overwhelming. It seems to be a bit easier if we have not relied on career and wealth, or any kind of power we have had over others in this life. We need to let go of everything created. It is easier to do it bit by bit – well before the door opens. It makes for much happier life, too.
Dying is even less oppressive if we do not treat ourselves too seriously, if somehow we manage to preserve childlike attitude even in this dire situation. Children – I hear from nurses and doctors – usually die without fear.
Our departure may even be sweet, if we had learned to rely in everything on Jesus and we have entrusted ourselves to His Mother. By the very virtue of entrustment our business of dying, with everything it involves, is now their business. All we have to do is to remember to make space for them – wherever and whenever our dying takes place. Such remembering takes some training and habit of faith – and that means spiritual effort which needs to be repeated well before dying.
Out of love and charity the Church turns our thoughts to helping the souls in the Purgatory. We should do all in our power to assist them in their toil to reach Heaven. A simple headache can work wonders if converted into a coin of God’s mercy. If I am happy when my sons or grandchildren help each other – how much happier is Father of us all when we support those who cannot help themselves.
Above all, I think, we should hope – through faith – for perfect happiness! There is so much, much more to come. For all whose love was broken, frustrated, failed in earthly lives – there is God’s Love. It must include tenderness, understanding, wisdom, tact, humor, loyalty, friendship, ingenuity, even small and great presents and surprises for His beloved ones – everything on indescribable scale.. Someone who created a squirrel, a flying fish and also solar systems – many of them – and all out of love – must be a wonderful company for eternity.
This Love will embrace us in conditions of new life, new Heaven and Earth, resurrection of our bodies, new angel-like existence with no tears, pain and worries.
We do not do enough to develop our appetite for Heaven. We seems to have had it before – in early Christianity, during persecutions, then in Middle Ages.. later on less so. In our age the priority has become a parody of “heaven on earth”, our equivalent of a Babel tower of various delights and technology based miracles.
Lets dare to dream and think about Heaven often and hell will no longer be an option.
Maria Kozakiewicz