October 25, 2019

The contemplation of death seems at first blush like a strange and morbid occupation. Yet, why is that? We are all going to die; humanity’s mortality rate still clocks in at 100%.  As Dawes sings, “you can stare into the abyss, but it’s staring right back.”Why not take a prolonged peek into the abyss?

16thcentury French philosopher Michel de Montaigne wrote, “To begin depriving death of its greatest advantage over us, let us deprive death of its strangeness, let us frequent it, let us get used to it; let us have nothing more often in mind than death.”The psalmists had the same thoughts much earlier. “For God knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.” (Psalm 103:14-16) Or, “So teach us to number our days that we get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

When Christians do stare into the abyss, we find Jesus Christ staring right back with open arms. Risen from the dead, He has trampled down death with His own death. So as we stare into the abyss we will have the Apostle Paul’s words on our lips, “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

“O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen” (Tuesday in Easter Week – BCP p. 223)