The Mystery of Death

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky
HERALD Columnist
(From the Issue of 3/14/02)

Generally, we think death is a bad idea. We fear it and tend to avoid the thought of it. Yet we are taught to pray for a "happy death." We conclude each Hail Mary with "pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death." We hope and pray for a "natural death." But is there anything "natural" about death?

At first glance, it may seem that while death is unpleasant, it is natural to man. Every person born into the world has died or will die. Sometimes the only "cure" for terrible suffering is death. When the many miracles of medical science fail, and death becomes a stern prospect, it may seem more like a friend than an enemy. St. Ambrose acknowledges that death is truly a gift to man after the Adam’s fall because death limits suffering.

In this way we are ambivalent about death. We are relieved when a loved one who has suffered so much finally succumbs to a natural death. But if death is "natural," is it also natural to be horrified by the prospect of death? As children, did not we think we would live forever? And as we grow older, do we not become more aware of our mortality with every passing year? It is healthy, normal and natural to love life. Do we fear death because death is essentially unnatural?

When the Lord wept at the tomb of Lazarus, he not only revealed his compassion for his friend, he confirmed what was written in the Book of Wisdom: "God did not make death, and He does not delight in the death of the living. For He created all things that they might exist" (Wis 1:13). Christ wept not only because Lazarus was his friend; He wept for all us destined to die. Christ weeps at the horror of death.

Death is not natural. God is the author of nature and all nature is good. God did not create us to die; He created us to live. Death, however, entered the world because of disobedience, that is, sin. Death violates God’s handiwork. But death is not the ultimate evil. Sin is the cause of death. Sin violates man’s dignity by upsetting the right order of things as established by the Creator. From the sin of Adam to our own sins, man suffers because of the disorder that he himself caused by disobedience.

Through sin, we bring disorder and suffering on ourselves.

Despite our disobedience, God continues to desire our happiness.

So our suffering must be healed at its root. Medical science can take away most of our physical pain, but medical science cannot guarantee us eternal life. Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, is now dead. All who were cured by Christ are now dead. Either the ministry of Christ was a cruel joke, or His mighty deeds were directing our attention to something far more profound than physical healing. The root of all suffering is sin, and sin must be forgiven to avoid eternal suffering.

Hence, the miracles of Christ ultimately have meaning for us to the extent that they stir us to faith in Him. Jesus did not come into the world to be a mere wonderworker. He came to rescue and forgive sinners and to heal our wounded souls. Christ alone has authority to forgive sins, an authority He entrusts to His priests. He wants to heal and restore our human nature to its original innocence. Just as Christ was "obedient unto death" to the Father, He beckons us to take up our crosses and follow Him in faith. In our Faith, Christ’s cross is not a sign of defeat, but a promise of final victory.

Death remains a mystery. But with the obedience of faith in Christ, we begin to overcome our ambivalence towards death. Death has become the "narrow gate" for life with Christ. For in Christ, with the certainty of faith, we can joyfully proclaim with St. Paul, "Death, where is thy victory? Death, where is thy sting?"

Fr. Pokorsky is administrator of St. Peter Misison in Washington, Va.

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