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.
