Dear Grace Family:
Have you ever noticed that people use many euphemisms to avoid saying someone has died? We may hear that they “passed on”, or they “bought the farm” or they “joined the church triumphant.” I have often been bothered by this reluctance to speak directly about death, but I could never articulate exactly why this bothered me.
Rachel Mann is a priest in the Church of England, and she has written about why Christians have every reason to be honest about the reality of death. We cannot emphasize the real triumph of resurrection until we acknowledge death as a reality. Mann explains it by writing, “One thing we should not be afraid of in our faith tradition is the bleak reality that God incarnate, Jesus Christ, actually died and died horribly. He did not fall asleep or pass over or, to quote George Eliot, “join the choir invisible.” He died, in a vile and appalling way.”
When we speak honestly about the reality and finality of death, we open space for an understanding of the resurrection as the miracle that it is. Lent is the time to reflect upon Jesus’ journey to the cross. I imagine that Jesus envisioned his approaching death throughout that journey. How might we all strive to be more honest in our thoughts about death, without losing our sensitivity to grief?
This Sunday, February 25, the message will be based upon one scripture passage; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26. Pastor Gary will offer a message entitled “Communion: It Reminds Us.” As I write this, I just now read the passage. The last line of verse 26 reads, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” This is one of those “God winks”, as I had no idea when I chose to write about death today that the passage would end with those words!
I pray that we all experience more “God winks” each day. I look forward to seeing everyone in worship Sunday!
Steve Hart