From Death to Life

I keep memorial cards for family members and friends who have died in my breviary, a prayer book I pick up three to four times a day. I like to remember them and pray for them especially as the anniversaries of their death approach. Earlier this week I held in my hand the memorial cards of two people both of whom died at age 50. One is a seminary classmate of mine who served as a priest in Ohio and died unexpectedly fifteen years ago while jogging. The other is of my brother Jake who died unexpectedly almost eleven years ago still full of life and energy.

Contemplating their lives and their unexpected deaths I found myself wondering, were these two fifty year old men ready to meet the Lord having died so suddenly? Then I asked myself the same question: “Would I have been ready had the Lord called me at fifty? Am I ready today? Are you ready today?"

For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, one way to answer the question about our readiness is found in Jesus’ words in this morning’s Gospel: “ Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” (John 12:24-25).

If we die to self, if we give our lives for others, if we lay down our life in love for others, then, whenever the Lord calls us, we will be ready. Our lives will have borne fruit.

Many of us have benefitted from the self-sacrificing love of parents, spouses, friends, teachers, pastors, and others whose selflessness and persevering commitment have helped shape us into the people we are. Dying to self in imitation of the Master, Jesus Christ, they have opened the door to life for us, and, in so doing, have found life in abundance for themselves. They have lived the Paschal Mystery.

Let us learn from the wisdom and example of Jesus Christ and the master disciples who have given of themselves for us in love. As their love has borne fruit so will ours if it is of Christ.

Fr. John P. Klein, Pastor