To Die is Gain

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Commemoration Of All Souls' Homily

Holy Names of Jesus & Mary Church, Memphis TN

Saturday, November 2, 2008

The Gospel contains some amazing paradoxical statements made by Jesus himself. Although it is the message of Jesus, but sometimes, it seems upside down and backwards. For instance, in the Gospel of Matthew 19: 30, Jesus says “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” This means first are last, last are first. In Matthew 23:11, he says “The greatest among you will be your servant” In Luke 17:33, the Lord says again “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” This seems to go against the natural instinct of self preservation. Many years later, St. Paul wrote something paradoxical, something that sounds very much like the same kind of contradiction. In Philippians 1:21 he says “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Brethren, today we commemorate the souls of all the faithful departed. Today, we remember our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, friends and colleagues who have gone before us in faith. We remember them today because they are dear to us. They once lived with us, ate with us, dinned with us, worked with us, fellowshipped with us, joked and chatted with us, worshipped with us in the house of God, but today they are no more with us. Although they are not with us physically, our faith tells they are not extinct or destroyed. Their death is not a total destruction, it is not a complete loss; it is not a pure absurdity. Today’s first reading says “The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment shall touch them.” (Wisdom 3:1) They are in the hands of God because our dearest Savior and Lord Jesus Christ says in John’s Gospel 14:1-2 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are so many mansions, and I am going to prepare a place for you... so that where I am you also may be.” Today, I am going to talk about death. The issue of death frightens some of us. Most people don’t even like to talk about death and dying. Most shun the subject or make jokes about it. But death is real. We have seen people die. We cannot hide from it or avoid it. No one can escape death. Most times death is viewed as a loss. When an important person dies for instance, his death is usually viewed as a great loss. In ordinary life situation, we express death as the “loss of life;” death is the loss human life. It is always a painful experience for those left behind. Bleaching the pain of death is denying the loss of the diseased. But death is not a complete loss. For St. Paul, it is gain. We know that gain is the opposite of loss. While we view death as a loss, St. Paul views it as a gain. For him, death was profitable. It is worthy to note that St. Paul wrote those words while he was in prison in Rome. And those words were addressed to the Christians in Philippi. St. Paul had been in jail but was miraculously set free by an earthquake. While in a Roman prison, he did not see any immediate release, and he was facing an uncertain future- he may not come out alive. But despite his trials and tribulations, he did not despair. He still expressed great joy in the midst of suffering. And he puts it beautifully: If I get to live, that will be good because it will allow me to continue the work of preaching the Gospel; but if death is the sentence, it is gain for me. He was so clear in affirming that death would be a better outcome because it would signal the end of misery, sorrow, suffering, pain, hardship, tribulation etc and will be the genesis of a beautiful life in God and with God in the presence of Christ. Death for him would mean the realization of his goals, dreams, aspirations, ambitions and inner yearnings. Death would be a gain for him because he would no more suffer in the flesh. His faith in God and hope of everlasting life would be fully realized. 

 Brethren, death is not the final word. Death is not total oblivion. Although it does bring loss, but not for the person who died, but for those left behind. When someone dies there is sadness, but not for the person who died, but for the ones left behind. As we grieve for the dead, St. Paul warns in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13, “that we should not grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope”. Hope is like an antibiotic for the despair of death. Hope assures us that the person who died believing in Christ is now very much alive in His presence and is filled, as the Bible says, “with unspeakable joy.” The dead person has not lost anything worth keeping, but has gained something that can never be taken away. Obviously the death of a beloved one brings some sadness and grief, but we are not sad for them. 

When Jesus was on his way to Calvary where he was crucified, there were women weeping for him. But he turned to them and said, “Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, rather weep for yourselves and your children” (Luke 23: 28). We can say the same thing today, don’t weep for Bob, don’t weep for Jessica; don’t weep for Jane; don’t weep for Francis, weep for yourself. Why? Because you and I must plod on this dark, sinful, and hurtful world. But not for Bob, not for Jessica, not for Jane and not for Francis. We will endure sickness and pain, abuse and shame, disappointment and hatred, but not for them. We will grow weary and even come close to despair; we will be maligned and dismissed; we will be treated unjustly and arrogantly; our leaders will hurt us and lie to us; but not Bob or Marie or Jessica. Therefore, do not weep for them but for yourself. We are still poor; they are rich. We are fearful; they are secured. We still suffer; they are healed everlastingly. Our souls are still yearning and longing for God, they are already with God. We still hope and pray; they are already enjoying full friendship with God. We still strive, they are already fulfilled. We aspire for perfection; they are perfect already. We still visit the doctor for medical treatment; they are finally free from all kinds of sickness. We lose; they gain. As we remember our beloved ones who had died, let’s pause for a while and think of where we stand today. Are we on the Lord’s side? Who are we working with? Are we right with God? A faithful servant of God needs not to fear death. Just like St. Paul death is a gain. St. Paul says “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. With lens and eyes of faith death is a gain because: First, by death you shall gain incomparable crown. A Crown of life (Rev. 2: 10, James 1: 12; a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4: 8); an incorruptible crown (1 Cor. 9: 24-25); a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4) 

Secondly, by death you shall gain a glorious kingdom (Luke 12:32) “It is your Father’s pleasure to give you a kingdom.” Thirdly, by death you shall gain a safe and honorable convoy into that other world (Luke 16: 22). Fourthly, by death, you shall gain a glorious welcome, a joyful welcome, a wonderful welcome into heaven. Fifthly, by death, you shall gain full freedom and liberty from all your enemies within and without- sin, Satan, and the world. (Luke 1: 70-75) Death is freedom from the indwelling power of sin (Romans 7: 23). It frees you from all provocations, temptations and suggestion to sin. Death will free you from all the effects and consequences of sin- losses, crosses, sickness, diseases, deformity, disgraces and suffering. It is freedom from all bodily infirmities and diseases. When Lazarus the poor found himself in heaven, all the sores in his body were no more there. Death will free you from all your sorrows, whether inward or outward, whether for your own sins or the sins of others, whether for our own sufferings or the sufferings of others. Death frees believers from all those troubles, calamities, miseries, mischief and desolations found in our world. But this does not mean we should take away our lives in order to avoid all these. Some people when overwhelmed with trails, heartaches, pain that come with living our life, desire to die. Many even commit suicide. But these have a perverted view of death. They view death as an empty escape. It is wrong. Death is not an empty escape; it is the beginning of a new life. 

Finally, by death we shall gain a clear, distinct, and full knowledge of all great and deep mysteries (1 Cor. 13:10- 12). Brethren, we should not at any time be afraid of death. If we are right with our Lord, it is always a gain. In Revelation 1:17-18, the Lord says, “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last; the living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades.” Just as Jesus was raised, we too will be raised to life. When we have put on the cloth of righteousness, then will come the saying, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting” (1 Cor. 15:50). The only way we can say “to die is gain” is if we are living with Christ and for Christ. Ask yourself the all important question, am I?