Dealing with death

John 19:26-27

     While the tenor of Lent is one of glorious resurrection and the promise of new life, one cannot truly enter into this mystery without the experience of death in some form. Dying to oneself, physical death of a loved one or facing our own mortality.

    I mark Lent with several memories of death. The death of my own dad was during Lent. I had to see an exceptional priest whisked away by diocesan politics during Lent. Still another good priest was also whisked away during Lent due to parish politics. The losses seem insurmountable, a betrayal of sorts and leaves one floundering in faith if not in life. This is coming from a proclaimed believer.

     At wake services I have noted how difficult it must have been for Mary to see her beloved son whipped , beaten, betrayed, paraded in the streets and then crucified. Saying that kind of goodbye is heart wrenching even to those who hear it 2000 years on.

     Today’s passage speaks of John accepting Mary as his mother and Mary accepting John as her son. There may be more to this story if indeed John was the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’ but even without such an interesting twist of exegesis, we see the answer to so much of human turmoil, death and suffering.

     In wrapping our arms around each other, in loving care , we find suffering to be lessened. Sharing in the cup of Jesus by relying on opening our hearts to others in time of need helps us to not only lessen the pain but helps focus us outward and forward in faith ( and life ).

     While Lent is grasping fully the meaning and significance of death, it is simultaneously the celebration of life which we do personally and communally. We come together during Lent and especially at Easter to celebrate the gift of life, promised life and the full extent of God's love for each and every one of us.