Do You Know When You Will Die?

Do you know when you will die?

Yep… neither do I.

When we lose someone, especially unexpectedly, it is shocking, painful, or maybe even a bit numbing. Inevitably, it causes us to remember our own death. Where will we be? How old will we be? Will it be a long, drawn out event or something so quick that we do not even see it coming?

Regardless of the when, where, and how, we know that we will experience bodily death. As Christians, we know that this is not the end. Our death is painful because it is unnatural, it is the body and the soul separating. But, at the end of time, we will be reunited with our bodies - new, glorified bodies.

The question - the big question - *where* will we spend eternal life? Will we choose to be with God forever in paradise or spend forever eternally separated from Him? This Advent, we are called by Holy Mother Church to remember our death, repent of our sins, and make straight a pathway to God!

As the Prophet Isaiah said,

“Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6).”

When is the Lord not near us? Is He not always near us? What Isaiah is saying is more about us than about Him. Seeking the Lord and calling upon Him is something that we can do as long as we have breath in our lungs. If we are alive, then we can choose God. But if we are dead, then our choice is sealed because we are judged immediately upon our death. This should not cause us to be fearful, but it should inspire healthy fear of God.

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and self knowledge. This Advent, pray to the Lord for direction and for greater self knowledge. Once the Lord reveals your weaknesses and failings, do not despair. Instead, with joy, give thanks to God for His nearness and call upon Him for His grace to repent and seek Him even more closely!