Reflection Starters
1. The following four pictures and statements are meant to be reflection starters as you articulate your
image or story of what you think about the most fundamental question of all. What will happen at our
death. Is that the end or is there something more?
2. Choose the two statements which best reflect your current perspective.
> If you choose the far right statement and the one on the top, then select the Top Right picture.
> Should you choose the far right statement and the one on the bottom, then select the Bottom
Right picture.
OR
choose the left statement along with either the top or bottom one and then the corresponding
picture.
3. Then respond to the next two questions
4. Reflect and write down for yourself what you think about death and life?
1. The following four pictures and statements are meant to be reflection starters as you articulate your
image or story of what you think about the most fundamental question of all. What will happen at our
death. Is that the end or is there something more?
2. Choose the two statements which best reflect your current perspective.
> If you choose the far right statement and the one on the top, then select the Top Right picture.
> Should you choose the far right statement and the one on the bottom, then select the Bottom
Right picture.
OR
choose the left statement along with either the top or bottom one and then the corresponding
picture.
3. Then respond to the next two questions
4. Reflect and write down for yourself what you think about death and life?
Death: A Birth into God’s New World
Once in a while it is useful to remind ourselves that death is certain. As followers of Jesus Christ we do not believe death is the end of life. Our faith tells us that death is more like a birth than anything else. Upon dying, we will be born into God’s new world where there is no more suffering, crying out in pain or death, but only the fullness of joy, peace, love and life without end.
In God’s new world we will be united with all the Angels and Saints in one loving family and together we will give God Praise and Thanks for the blessings of God’s Life Giving Love.
What happens when we die?
When we talk about God or the realities of life and death, we can only use similes, metaphors or analogies. Recent philosophers and theologians tell us that at death we come to full self-awareness and encounter the Risen Christ.
We are created in love, by love and for love. The goal of our life is to be fully alive, full of love.
Life is like running a marathon. When we die we enter the stadium for the final lap. There, we see the finish line: Jesus Christ. As we look into His eyes we see a person fully alive, full of love, our goal. At the moment of death we become fully aware of our entire life and are conscious of both the good and the bad we have done: the loving acts and the selfish acts.
Seeing Jesus we, who have tried to grow in love during life, run all the harder toward the finish line to be embraced by the Risen Christ. St. Paul describes those who have gone before as a cloud of witnesses cheering us on to victory. (Heb 12:1) Our prayers, even for those long dead, come before God who hears them as cries of support for those who have died. They too are cheers urging the one who has died to finish the race.)
From one perspective, Christ is the judge because he is the standard of what it means to be a human person, fully alive and love itself. From another perspective, we are our own judge. We see where we have failed and yet we run all the harder toward the finish line.
Running the last lap is painful for we are purifying our self of all selfishness. It is our purgatory. Those whose lives have been full of self-centeredness and sin do not recognize Christ as their goal. They will turn, as it were, and walk out of the stadium to live in isolation, focused only on themselves. This is the meaning of hell. Christ has his arms open to embrace us. When we reach him and embrace him he leads us to the Father, to all our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and to all creation. Then we experience the fullness of joy, peace, love and life without end. This is heaven.
Because we live in time and space, we naturally think of all this as occurring over a period of time.
But it could happen rather instantaneously.
Once in a while it is useful to remind ourselves that death is certain. As followers of Jesus Christ we do not believe death is the end of life. Our faith tells us that death is more like a birth than anything else. Upon dying, we will be born into God’s new world where there is no more suffering, crying out in pain or death, but only the fullness of joy, peace, love and life without end.
In God’s new world we will be united with all the Angels and Saints in one loving family and together we will give God Praise and Thanks for the blessings of God’s Life Giving Love.
What happens when we die?
When we talk about God or the realities of life and death, we can only use similes, metaphors or analogies. Recent philosophers and theologians tell us that at death we come to full self-awareness and encounter the Risen Christ.
We are created in love, by love and for love. The goal of our life is to be fully alive, full of love.
Life is like running a marathon. When we die we enter the stadium for the final lap. There, we see the finish line: Jesus Christ. As we look into His eyes we see a person fully alive, full of love, our goal. At the moment of death we become fully aware of our entire life and are conscious of both the good and the bad we have done: the loving acts and the selfish acts.
Seeing Jesus we, who have tried to grow in love during life, run all the harder toward the finish line to be embraced by the Risen Christ. St. Paul describes those who have gone before as a cloud of witnesses cheering us on to victory. (Heb 12:1) Our prayers, even for those long dead, come before God who hears them as cries of support for those who have died. They too are cheers urging the one who has died to finish the race.)
From one perspective, Christ is the judge because he is the standard of what it means to be a human person, fully alive and love itself. From another perspective, we are our own judge. We see where we have failed and yet we run all the harder toward the finish line.
Running the last lap is painful for we are purifying our self of all selfishness. It is our purgatory. Those whose lives have been full of self-centeredness and sin do not recognize Christ as their goal. They will turn, as it were, and walk out of the stadium to live in isolation, focused only on themselves. This is the meaning of hell. Christ has his arms open to embrace us. When we reach him and embrace him he leads us to the Father, to all our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and to all creation. Then we experience the fullness of joy, peace, love and life without end. This is heaven.
Because we live in time and space, we naturally think of all this as occurring over a period of time.
But it could happen rather instantaneously.
Dying Well
Just as a person can learn to live well, so a person can learn to die well so that one’s death, like that of Jesus’, will be a blessing for others.
We do not want to die. We struggle against death, but in the end, like Saint Francis of Assisi, we want be able to say, “Welcome Sister Death” who opens the door to God’s new world
. We will only be able to do so if we are able to say,
What better way to prepare for a happy death than to say this each and every day?
Just as a person can learn to live well, so a person can learn to die well so that one’s death, like that of Jesus’, will be a blessing for others.
We do not want to die. We struggle against death, but in the end, like Saint Francis of Assisi, we want be able to say, “Welcome Sister Death” who opens the door to God’s new world
. We will only be able to do so if we are able to say,
- Father, I am sorry for my sins and I forgive those who have offended me.
- I love you with all my heart.
- Into your hands I commend my life.
- Thank You.
What better way to prepare for a happy death than to say this each and every day?
Our Catholic Story:
As Catholics we believe
As Catholics we believe
- By dying well, we will make a final gift to God of our life and be a witness to others of our confidence in God’s loving and life-giving presence .
- In God’s new world there will be no more crying out in pain, suffering or death but only the fullness of peace, joy and life without end.
- Our delight will be to join with all the angels and saints in giving God Praise and Thanks for the amazing grace which saved us and brought us safely home.
Your story
Would you modify your story of what awaits us in the World to Come in some way?
Other Questions
What other questions do you have or would like to ask?
A) ________________________________________________________________
B) ________________________________________________________________
C) ________________________________________________________________
Additional Resources
Links
What is the meaning of death? What do we believe about what happens after we die?
What is “life everlasting” and is there a final judgement?
Links
What is the meaning of death? What do we believe about what happens after we die?
What is “life everlasting” and is there a final judgement?
AMEN
Which means, “I believe” !
Which means, “I believe” !