Clergy Comment column

Here is my article published in the February 8, 2018 Camrose Canadian Clergy Comment column.

   The ‘D’ word. A word most unpopular in our society. The ‘D’ word I’m referring to is, of course, death.

   Over the wide sweep of human history, death and dying have been treated in a host of ways.

Death has been, and for many still is something to be avoided and feared. For example, we soften our language by employing euphemisms like: ‘he or she passed away, fell asleep and never woke up, has left us, shed this veil of tears, is at rest’—and the list goes on. 

   Another way humans deal with death and dying is by speaking of death as the enemy. One wages war against death, one battles the enemy. Ingmar Bergman’s film The Seventh Seal illustrates this well, picturing a medieval knight in a classic struggle against death. According to both the Jewish and Christian faiths, death occurs because it is the result of sin—hence it is not only our enemy, but also God’s enemy because it causes suffering for God and for all creation.

   Another way human beings have regarded death is by referring to it as a friend. In this view of death, nothing is to be feared. Rather, death is to be accepted as a natural end to this life. For people of faith, it is something to look forward to with hope, since it is viewed as a release from the sin and sufferings of this world.

   Another metaphor that some employ to describe death is that of a door. For many people of faith, they speak of death as a door that opens for them and then closes behind them at God’s appointed time. Death as a door leads to a better life and is not to be feared.

   Then there is, as Psalm twenty-three describes it, “the valley of the shadow of death,” or “the darkest valley.” It is a great unknown, and too dark to see clearly. Yet, the psalmist remains confident, and not afraid of evil, since the LORD walks with us through this darkest valley, hence it is not a permanent state or place of residence.

   The season of Lent is an appropriate time to focus on the ‘D’ word. Lent assists us all as we focus on the suffering, dying and death of Jesus; we are better able to focus on and prepare for our own suffering, dying and death.

   It is very instructive that the Hebrew word for sacrifice means to draw close. Jesus by willingly, lovingly, unconditionally choosing to die on the cross as a sacrifice for the sin of the world has drawn everyone closer to God.