Death and Dying

DEATH AND DYING

Both science and faith, each in its own way and in its proper place, should help us live, and therefore also help us face death, with greater courage and dignity. Death is a consequence of life. In other words, death is an integral part of life. Life and death form a continuous line.

Death should not be seen simply as the final point at the end of life. If we see it that way, it becomes a tragedy that seems to rob life of its meaning. On the contrary, death gives life a deeper sense of urgency and reality. Because we do not have unlimited time, and because we do not know the hour of our death, every moment of life becomes uniquely precious. Each moment is the only one we truly possess. Either we live it well, or we risk letting it slip away.

In this sense, dying is a task that is built through living. Just as in nature, where we begin the process of dying the very day we are born, because our bodies are temporary, our challenge is to live in such a way that each day could be our last, without needing another day to fix what we left undone. When we live this way, death takes on a different meaning. It stops being an unavoidable tragedy that surprises us and instead becomes a quiet companion, reminding us daily of life’s fragility and of the importance of living deeply, both personally and in our relationships with others.

In this way, the death of others can also teach us how to die well. Those we love who have already gone before us remind us that life is temporary and encourage us to live more courageously and more fully. How good it would be if, from early in life, we could see death in this way and relate to it without so much fear. Perhaps we would live with greater wisdom and courage.

Those who have died cannot simply be pushed aside into the silence of hospital rooms, morgues, or cemeteries. They remain part of our story. Not in a way that traps us in constant grief, but in a way that nourishes our memory and reshapes the meaning of our lives.

Finally, we must remember a powerful biblical example that reveals the deeper meaning of death. The cross and the death Jesus experienced upon it were not accidents. The death of Jesus of Nazareth was the consequence of the life he lived. His unwavering commitment to goodness and love led him to face the threats of the cross. Because he did not retreat even a single step from that commitment, death became inevitable. In that sense, death became part of his life.

Yet death did not have the final word. Instead of being an ending, it became the beginning of a new dimension of life: the resurrection.

The risen Christ is the same Jesus who was crucified. He still bears the wounds. Yet life has risen to a new reality where the boundaries between life and death are broken, and a new humanity, renewed and recreated can live fully.

So remember: time flies. Seize the day.

Rev. Marvel Souza