Yes, we are afraid of death. The mere thought of death makes us worry or uneasy. We think of our unpreparedness in facing death. We languish in the four corners of our minds. We do not know what is in the afterlife.
In other words, we know that death is certain to happen but what is uncertain is what will happen to us after death.
Our dead bodies will be mere cadavers, which will rot and decay through time as worms swarm, crawl and feast on our flesh and organs until none remains but our bones. Oh yes, there is cremation where our bodies will be burned until only ashes remain.
Meanwhile, our love ones, our families will miss us as they grieved with tears and in deep sorrow. People will condole and sympathize. But after the lapse of certain period, they will get over with the mourning and life must go on. We shall be in their memories but for others we will merely be somebody who lived in the past until even our images are forgotten.
Others are clever or narcissistic enough to make sure they are remembered if not idolized as if they created the earth where they once moved around. The will insure that schools, roads, hospitals, parks, monuments, buildings and other structures or even laws and days are named after them.
Of course in fairness to those others who passed away and has done great things to change the lives of people and make lives better, they deserve to be honored and remembered in many ways and forms. It could be in a manner that truly structures are named after them or simply their birth and death anniversaries are commemorated, among others.
Our faith teaches us to accept that when we leave this world, we leave our material wealth behind. Our souls are separated from our bodies. That separation alone is already a manifestation that we cannot bring anything to the next world.
If it were otherwise, meaning, the bringing of material wealth in the afterlife, then that afterlife will be very boring and no different from what this world has provided or did not give. In which case, the question would be asked - why die if the afterlife would still be the same with the present life. What happens to eternal life?
Our faith has assured us that there is an afterlife. Depending on how a person has lived the present life, one may obtain the merits of eternal life - a life full of joy and happiness in the presence of God and in a paradise called Heaven, or one may fall into the abyss of eternal damnation - a miserable place of wailing, gnashing, and intense pain called Hell.
During Lent, others regard it as an occasion to be reminded of the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. A history of pain, suffering, bribery, betrayal, injustice and violent death or mob rule - murder.
We must however not forget and be fully aware of the real meaning and message of Lent - that God gave His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save us from the slavery of sins.
How do make the most out of Lent then in order that when death comes we are prepared to meet our God?
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