Even if we have reached the top and made our influence very extensive we are deigned to come down. The soil we have thrown up will come down. Our life itself is very similar.
The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul (Gen 2: 7). Humans were formed from the dust of the earth. So, that has to return to the dust. The breath of life has to merge with the one who had bestowed it. There is no other option.
In the Syro-Malabar liturgy there are very meaningful prayers recited during the funeral service; while blessing tomb the celebrant prays:
“Lord God, you created man from the earth and have destined him to go through death; how magnificent is the tomb where your holy ones rest for now.”
While the body is adorned with frankincense:
“Man, you are dust, remember, unto dust you return.”
All these remind us of the eternal truth that our body must return to the earth. Even when we are weary and tired, we are very careful not to fall, but definitely we will fall one day; and will be buried. But we are unaware of the exact time and place. What is most important for us is to be able to live always with this awareness.
The awareness that our body must rest under the ever-trodden ground may help us to look upon this earth with more respect. This is the soil, the land that is composed of our ancestors and forefathers too. We are to keep in our mind the fact that when the earth is heavily polluted through the use of large amounts of toxins, we are doing horrible disservice not only to future generations but also to our earlier generations! Every step we put forward on earth should be with due respect because there lay those who deserve respect under our feet.
With death, change comes to the body which was preserved until then. Perfumes may have been used to scent the body; make-up may have been applied to enhance beauty and might have used pesticides to repelants and insects. If everything done in life was only for the upkeep of our body, we might be thrown into a sad situation. We ought to have been mindful of the nourishment of our soul too during our lifetime. Then we would be able to overcome our fear of death.
In Sonnet 146, Shakespeare has a beautiful line:
“Death once dead, there is no more dying then.”
We are worried about death only until we die. After our death, there will be no worry about our death. Moreover, as St. Paul assures Titus, “We become heirs in hope of eternal life” (Titus 3: 7). We are destined for eternity.
Once a young man said to the Guru:
“Master, I am afraid of death. What shall I do to get rid of this fear?”
Guru, rather than giving an answer raised another question:
“If you borrow money from someone, should you pay it back later or not?”
“Sure, we have to give back.”
He replied. But his doubt wasn’t clarified, hence asked again:
“But how does this help me overcome my fear of death?”
The Guru then bent down and took a handful of soil and held it in his hand, said:
“Your life itself is a gift. God has lent it to you. You are bound to give it back.”
The Guru then directed his attention to the soil in his hand and said:
“We are made up of the soil, and our body must return to the earth. Every handful of rice we eat, every drop of water we drink increases our debt.”
He paused and continued:
“God created Adam from the dust and let him walk on the dust. He is the dust. God did it so that man would remember always that he must return to the dust. You and I are the same. We who walk in the dust will eventually be covered by the dust. We will become dust as our body knead into the dust.”
Then he threw the soil in his hand upwards. For a moment, when the soil that had been thrown up fell down, the Guru continued:
“No matter how high we reach or how wide we spread, it should come down. Didn’t the soil that went up come down? That is life.”
Guru whispered looking into the young man’s eyes.
“Only one thing is needed to liberate you from the fear of death.”
Looking at the anxious disciple, he said:
“Do not think that you are the master of your body. You are only a caretaker. You do not know how much debt you owe to pay. You do not know when you will pay it up. Only your master can know it. So be watchful at every moment. Meanwhile, there isn’t any need for fear. All you need to do is to give it back.”
We live on a borrowed life, but we forget it always.
I recall a little incident narrated by Fr. Saiju Thuruthyil, a friend of mine. Once he went to visit his sick friend. The man, a father of three, was in critical condition in the hospital. Two of his children are abroad. The man is wealthy and had been enjoying all the comforts of life.
Fr. Saiju and the sick person had a rather lengthy conversation. It was time for the man to go to the toilet. The nurses could not come and help him on time since they were busy. His wife was afraid to accompany him because the urine passed would have traits of blood. So the priest himself accompanied him to the toilet. While returning with him holding a hand on his shoulder, he asked the priest:
“Don’t you pray a lot, father?”
”Yes,” the priest answered.
“Then ask God, could I get one more day added to my life? It is enough for me to get just an additional day.”
The man clarified his prayer intention.
“Of course, I can pray for you. But why do you ask for one more day?” asked the priest.
“It is good that if I get just one more day. Father, there are a few more things to be settled.” He said.
The man died a few days later. But his heart-rending request still haunts me. When we are very close to the moment of death, we wish for some extension in order to settle a few more things! Now nothing is being done; just wasting time. Finally, you will be clamoring for just one more day in your life.
Sr. Jessy watched the movie For Greater Glory once, after being diagnosed with cancer. This is a movie about Saint Jose Sanchez of Rio whom Pope Francis canonized on October 16, 2016. He was martyred at the age of fourteen for defending his faith in Christ. Saint Jose Sanchez was born on March 28, 1913, and was martyred on February 10, 1928.
The saint was killed as part of the Cristero War. In 1917, new articles were added to the Mexican Constitution against Catholic faith and priesthood. People reacted against this action of the government, but in vane. By 1926, the Mexican government had promulgated the Calles Law, which denied the Catholic Church even its freedom of worship. It was against this law that Cristero started a war with the support of the church. It lasted from 1926 to 1929.
The scene where the saint was being martyred is depicted in the movie in a very touching manner. The torturers lay him down and wound him under his feet with a knife. Still, the saint cries out in agony:
“Vivo Crito Re.”
Then he is made to walk to the place execution. We see the blood dripping from under the feet and he even slips while walking. The burial pit had already been made. Stopping on its brink, he was once again forced to deny Christ. But his response was Vivo Crito Re. With that, the signal for execution is being given. The next moment, they thrust a knife from behind into the chest of the saint who was standing in prayer. The last shot rings out as the fourteen-year-old falls to the ground and makes a sign of cross on the ground with his fingers, and he dies.
After watching this movie, Sister Jessy said:
“How much that saint suffered. I pray to that saint too. How bravely did he die!”
And I said: “It was a terrible death.”
“How could it be a terrible death? It iwas a holy death.” Sr. Jessy corrected me.
I admitted the correction:
“But I’m afraid to die like that,” I revealed my mind.
“Why should you be afraid? We all have to leave this world at the time and in the manner God has destined. That’s all,” said Sr. Jessy.
“Anyhow, I’m a bit scared,” I repeated.
“I am not afraid. Why should I be afraid? I have to leave this world sometime. All I have to do is to pray. I will pray to this saint.” Sr. Jessy concluded.
Since then she has been praying through the intercession of Saint Jose Sanchez of Rio. She has been fully convinced she will be going to God and not to the earth.
Now, I also pray through the intercession of Saint Jose Sanchez of Rio.
Fr. G. Kadooparayil MCBS