Discovering Life Before Death
That’s quite the story we just heard, a dead man coming out of a tomb. As they’d say down at Floyd’s Bare, “Heck of a story.” The question Jesus asks Martha is the question that he asks us. “I am the Resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?” There is the story of the young proteges of a holy sage who were discussing the question of life after death. “Is there really life after death? They asked
They went rounded and round discussing it. The old sage just sat there listening with this all-knowing smile on his face. Finally. the young proteges asked, “Master, what do you think?” Is there life after death?”
The old sage thought about it for a moment. “That is a very good question you are asking. But there is another question just as important. Is there life before death?” Live this question well and you won’t have to worry about the first question.”
Live your life well and you won’t have to worry about the first question. Live your life well and you’ll discover life before death. So, how do you do that, discover life before death?
At the end of his first semester away at college a young man came home and confided in his dad. “Dad, I’m not sure there is life after death.” His dad thought for a moment. “Imagine you had one year left to live. How would you want to live that year? Start living that way now.”
Is there life after death? It’s a good question but just as important, “Is there life before death?” Focus on that question and it will realign your life. St. Augustine was right. Our hearts are restless until they rest in you Oh God. If I can live my life with my heart resting in God I will discover life before death.
Whether you believe in a God or not if we can live without always having to worry about what’s in it for me, we will discover life before death. As people of faith, we believe that it’s Jesus who helps us discover life before death. Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “I have come that you might have life, and life in abundance”.
I know someone who lives life in abundance. It’s Fr. Greg Shcaffer. He’s the priest in our mission parish in San Felix, Venezuela. Though his life is abundant it’s not easy. Last weekend when most of you weren’t here because of a snowstorm, I told this story.
Recently a man came to Fr. Greg. He desperately needed surgery. Without it his health was at high risk. He had absolutely no money to pay for it. Fr. Greg covered the cost of the surgery out of his own pocket. It left him with considerable debt. But as Fr. Greg put it. “If it can save a life, it’s worth it.”
How do we discover life before death, the abundant life that Jesus promises? Jesus answers that question when talking with Martha. “I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?” Fr. Greg believes this. Do I believe this?
I do believe this. And so as best I can I want to live my life for Jesus. I’m not just saying this because I’m a priest. I want to do that not just to earn the reward of heaven. I want to do that so I can live the fullness of life, the fulness of life that Jesus, the resurrection and the life invites us to live right now. All we have to do is enter into it and let God do the rest.