Meditation for Wednesday

DEATH

I

Consider that this life must soon come to an end. The sentence is already passed: You must die. Death is certain, but its moment is unknown. No one knows when it will strike. Human life is constantly exposed to countless dangers—a sudden rupture of an artery, a stroke, the bite of a venomous creature, a flood, an earthquake, a lightning strike. Any of these may take your life in an instant. Death may surprise you when you least expect it. How many have gone to bed in good health, only to be found lifeless in the morning? And why should this not happen to you? Many who have died suddenly never expected such an end. And if they were in mortal sin, what is now their fate for all eternity?

At the very least, one thing is certain: either the night will come when you will never see the morning, or the day will come when you will never see the night. “I shall come,” says Jesus Christ, “like a thief in the night, when I am least expected.” (Matt. 24:44) Your merciful Lord warns you in advance because He desires your salvation. O sinner, heed His warning! Be always prepared for death, for in that moment there will be no time to make amends. Reflect on this truth: you must certainly die. The world will soon close upon you forever, though you do not know when. Who can say if it will be within a year, a month, a week—or even tomorrow?

O my Jesus, grant me light and pardon my sins.

II

Consider that, at the hour of your death, you will be lying on a bed, surrounded by grieving family and friends. A priest will stand by your side, a candle will be lit near you, and you will be only one step away from eternity. Your head will throb with pain, your vision will blur, your tongue will burn with thirst, your blood will cool, and your heart will struggle in agony. The world will fade from your sight. And then—your soul will separate from your body. Everything you possessed will be stripped away, and you will be cast into the earth to decay. Soon, worms will consume your flesh, and in a short time, all that will remain of you will be a few dry bones and a little dust. Open a grave and look upon the remains of the rich, the powerful, the vain. This is the end of human life. And this will soon be yours.

But go further—look beyond the grave with the eyes of faith. What will become of your soul? The demons of hell will surround you, bringing before you every sin you have ever committed since childhood. Now, the devil conceals from you the gravity of your sins. He persuades you that there is little harm in vanity, indulgence, resentment, bad company. But at death, he will reveal their full horror to drive you to despair. Then, in the light of God Himself, you will see the depth of evil in every offense against His infinite goodness. But it will be too late. Now is the time to make reparation while you still can. At death, there will be no more time.

III

Consider that death is the moment on which eternity depends. Imagine a dying man, trembling as he prepares to cross into eternity. In just a moment, his fate will be sealed forever. He will either be saved or lost. O this final breath! This fleeting moment, on which an eternity depends—an eternity of either unspeakable happiness or unbearable misery, of heaven or of hell. If you are saved, you will be secure from all evil and filled with perfect joy. If you are condemned, you will suffer in despair for as long as God is God.

At that hour, you will understand the meaning of heaven, hell, sin, divine justice, the breaking of God’s law, sins concealed in confession, ill-gotten goods never restored, grudges never forgiven. Then, the dying soul cries out in terror: "Unhappy me! In just a moment, I must appear before God. What will my sentence be? Where will I go? To heaven or to hell? Will I rejoice with the saints or burn with the damned? Will I be a child of God or a slave of the devil? Oh, in just a minute, I shall know—and my fate will last forever!" Then you will curse the day you first sinned, but your sorrow will be in vain—it will come from fear, not from love of God. Ah, my God! I will not wait until death to repent. From this moment, I turn to You. I love You, I embrace You, and I wish to die in Your arms.

O Mary, my Mother, let me die under your protection. Assist me in that critical and decisive moment. Amen.