If You’re Afraid of Dying

If you’re afraid of dying, that’s natural because—originally—we were not supposed to die. We were meant to live forever. But through original sin, death entered the world. St. Paul said:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

But the faith, hope, and love we have in Christ brings new life:

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).

Jesus conquered sin and death with his death and resurrection. As St. Paul said to Timothy:

“Our Savior Christ Jesus ... abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

When you live for Christ, there’s only life. Every day could be our last day, but that simply means every day could be the day we are reunited with God who is love. This is what compelled St. Paul to say:

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

And:

“O death, where is thy victory?
O death, where is thy sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Jesus affirms:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death” (John 8:51).

And he offers this everlasting life through his flesh and blood, the Eucharist:

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:51).

If you fear death, ask the Holy Spirit to quell that fear in you. Pray for God’s supernatural grace that has power over death. Also, ask St. Joseph for a happy death, since he had Jesus and Mary at his side when he died.

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