Giving Away Our Deaths – Remembering Our Loved Ones

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Henri Nouwen once wrote, “During this Holy Week we are confronted with death more than any other season of the liturgical year.  We are called to meditate not just on death in general or on our own death in particular, but on the death of Jesus Christ who is God and (human) … we too are called to make our death a death for others” (from A Letter of Consolation, quoted in “Eternal Seasons, A Liturgical Journey with Henri J.M. Nouwen,” Sorin Books.  Ronald Rolheiser, OMI also writes for this day:  “(Jesus) gives his death to us through his passivity, just as he had previously given his life to us through his activity … the fact that life and love are given not just in what we do for others but also, and perhaps even more deeply, in what we absorb at those times when we are helpless, when we have no choice except to be patient”  (Daybreaks, Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter).

This awareness of death is close to home for us here today at the house of prayer.  Chantelle’s mother, Coreen, died on this day 15 years ago; she was 64.  We are also so painfully aware that today is the second anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos’ bus crash.  Memorial photos were part of our daily Eucharist this morning.  

Immediately after our time of prayer I also learned that a friend for the past 25 years is very close to death.


“We too are called to make our death a death for others.”
Glenn

Comments

  1. JudithApril 6, 2020 at 3:12 PM

    Thank you for this very personal sharing, Chantelle and Glenn. It brings a sense of personal call to sit with the Lord, deep within, and to ponder the words "life and love are given ...in what we absorb....when we have no choice except to be patient." Strangely, I have been deeply aware of God's life and love during the pandemic, and yet unresolved health issues are another matter. What complex persons we are! One minute being open to letting God immerse us in his loving presence, and the next minute letting fear take over.

    Jesus lovingly washing his disciples feet and giving them eucharist .....Jesus frightened in the garden of Gethsemane .........Jesus speaking lovingly to the criminal beside him ....... Jesus crying out to his Father who seems absent .........

    He knew pain, he knew fear and doubt, he knew death, HE KNOWS RESURRECTION. His story is our story. Let us be open in fullness to absorb all he wants to give us as we journey with him this week.

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  2. GlennApril 6, 2020 at 3:52 PM

    Thanks for this eloquent statement of faith - of love - of hope - so much like the homily of Bp Don yesterday when he spoke of this time being a "vortex of pain," calling forth love fully given, hope that is real in which we are not merely bystanders. Thanks, Judith.

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