Think on Death?

The hope, however tenuous it was, that we would gather together as one body for Easter has now been dashed upon the rocks of our common commitment to stem the tide of this pestilence.

As we receive the news that (again) the "shelter and stay" directive has been lengthened we may begin to wonder, with the psalmist "O Lord, how long?" (Psalm 13:1). What at first seemed a novel but fleeting inconvenience is stretching into a settled new pattern for daily life.

It can be hard to wait, for as we are finding out - patience is a virtue hard won. We, however, are called to be a people who are characterized by patience: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22).

The patience that honors the Lord is (1) tempered with the longing of anticipation (which is to say that we are setting our eyes on God's promises for the future) and (2) that makes good use of the time.

Knowledge of our own mortality and the mortality of our loved ones can help us prioritize how we use the time that we have been given. An article I read last week had this helpful reminder:

"The medievals - who lived through multiple plagues - had this artistic tradition for centuries. In almost every portrait the artist would sneak in some small symbol of death (usually a skull tucked into the corner). It was called "Memento Mori" - "Think on death." These portraits were usually commissioned by wealthy merchants and the paintings usually celebrated their wealth and prosperity. Yet, the artistic tradition of "Memento Mori" was saying "Don't be an idiot - this is the fate that faces all of us. Think on this. Think hard." (David French, 3.22).

The season of Lent began with the words "Remember O man that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return" and this year, it seems that these words have been spoken again and again - in every news report and update that we receive.

As members of Christ's Church, we are able to face these realities with the calm assurance afforded us by Christ's victory over the grave, and his promise to take us to be with him where he is.

There is another artistic tradition in which a symbol of death is often portrayed - in icons of the crucifixion we often see a skull and bones at the base of the Cross, to signify that in Jesus' death, death itself was conquered. One preacher entitled his sermon on this subject "The death of death, in the death of Christ."

Icons like the one below is a hope-filled invitation to "Mememto Mori" (to think on death), and to do so through the Cross. Jesus has conquered death and he now calls to us, his Church, to live as those who have died to themselves and live for Him.

Make good use of the time, "for the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16).

JSSP+