Lectio divina
Safe Haven
"One day you will die" It is God's sentence on every man: a sentence that we find in the book of Genesis in chapter II and we see that this sentence has its course daily: in fact, we see death roaming in all the fields of the world reaping countless victims every day.
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I will be their refuge
To understand well the full scope of Jesus' promise "I will be their safe haven in life and especially in death" I think it is good to recall the thought of death, which has always been considered a very powerful aid for spiritual life; for which it is our duty to study a fact so opposite to sin, and of such great help for sanctity... After all, death is a truth of ever new interest, of which we never tire, a truth full of emotions with which we never become familiar.
Even worldly people sometimes feel that the thought of death is necessary, not only to give meaning, an order to life, but also to infuse it with a serene light.
Pascal said "Life without the thought of death, that is, without religion, without what distinguishes us from beasts, is a delirium, or intermittent, or continuous, or tragic"
Precisely so that our life does not become a tragic delirium, we gather to meditate on death. We will not do the usual exercise of the good death, we will contemplate this solemn reality in some of its aspects that will give us an almost sensitive confirmation of the reality of the meditations of principle and foundation.
The truth of our faith is clear "It is a punishment". Universal punishment: no one can delude himself into escaping its rapacious hand. A terrifying punishment among all that can be imagined on the face of the earth. Bitter and terrible punishment:
- In its essence: it marks the dissolution of our being: that which most repugnant to our instinct; already Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, said, "Of all things, death is the most terrible, the most bitter".
- In its circumstances, which are completely unknown to us: where, when, how will we die? It is an enemy continually lurking, a sword of Damocles always hanging over our heads.
- In its consequences: "It is a moment on which eternity depends", it is an act of which with all the good will we can have no experience, it must be done all at once, quickly, perhaps, and everything depends on the perfection with which one gets it done for that one time... it is a unique act, absolute, final, immutable; once done it must be left as it is, with its inevitable fecundity of eternal consequences.
- Because it will surprise us in the least favorable circumstances for a decision of such tragic consequences. If there is a moment in which we need health, vigor, a clear mind, a calm will, severe attention, it is precisely the moment of death "on which eternity depends" and it is precisely that point in which, due to illness, dizziness, a thousand pains, apprehensions, interests... we will lack strength, lucidity, security, tranquility.
"Bitter death!" How true this expression of Scripture is. Death is a word that always sends a shiver through our limbs, a word that evokes in us the memory of stinging tears, of ineffable anguish, of dark visions and fearful presentiments. Then when this reality is present to us, when it makes us feel the weight of its pains and bitterness, of the tears that accompany it, we are tempted to protest against the Lord "But why death? Why at this very moment?" Not even the saints have escaped this anguish.
The answer to our groan is already marked in the Holy Books. We must not ask God about death: "God did not create death nor does he enjoy the ruin of men"; in his ineffable goodness. God created us for eternal life. We must ask sin to account for death, for it is the firstborn of sin.
Then, how does Jesus define death? A thief. And, truly, he deserves such a name. He steals for the pleasure of destroying, of annihilating. He will make a real mess of our life.
He steals and destroys one by one all our earthly goods: money, possessions with the pleasures and comforts of which they are the source; naked we entered the world and we will leave it stripped of everything: the most radical poverty is accomplished by death; he will tear away from us those hidden idols, those little comforts, in which we have taken pleasure, to which we have been tenaciously attached to the point of even making God himself pass into the background.
It will also reduce to dust our pride with all its ambitions. Honorary offices, attestations of esteem, desire for admiration, praise and so many other aspirations. After a few days no one will speak of us, think of us, perhaps some good soul will say a prayer of peace, only our obscure name will remain, insignificant in the dusty books of the municipal and parish chronicle.
And to think that today, perhaps, we boast, we go thinking and saying: "If it weren't for me!". But the common saying is "No one is indispensable in this world; when we are no longer here, others will carry on the good, perhaps better than before", others taking a deep breath, almost of liberation, will say, "Finally he is gone". Death is bitter!
Our body? We know what its end is, it will be preserved for some time and then it goes, where the silence and darkness of the tomb will make havoc of it...
This is what you so carefully cultivated! Biblical wisdom..
