The Book of Ecclesiastes tells us about the truth that there is an appointed time for everything that happens under the sun. A time to be happy and a time to mourn; a time for sowing and a time for reaping; a time to laugh and a time to cry; a time to be born and a time to die. Indeed, God has an appointed time for everything and most often than not, we are powerless to change that appointed time that has been set by God for us. The most soothing way of accepting this harsh reality is to make our minds and hearts believe that this is part of God’s will and thereby, as good, and devout Christians, we must obey and never complain.
Death is an age-old reality that has haunted our lives since the start. Death is the constant nightmare that we are trying to avoid but always in vain. Death is so powerful that even the strongest would concede and the toughest would give in to and the thrill-seeker would not dare to tread. Dying is one of the reasons why man’s life is in misery because death affects every aspect of human life.
If we will try to look at our own life we can name numerous negative things that are present in us because of the harsh reality of death. It makes us afraid; it makes us weak, and it makes us lose sight of our dreams and visions and thereby let ourselves be carried by the wind of fate. What is the use of our aspirations and our longing for a better life and for a higher source of happiness when someday we will all end up face to face with death? Death cripples us and death does it good for most of us. So, we stop dreaming dreams fearing that one day death would take everything away from us. Somehow, we are hoping that one day everything will be fine, and we can live our lives in utter happiness and in eternity.
My dear friends, this is the kind of social cancer that has inflicted the whole of humanity and there is no known cure and there is no way of for us but to turn back in surrender. The meaning of life and living is diminished because of death.
This truth about death is placed in our fickle minds and this truth that we hold on to simply shows that we do not have faith in the resurrection that Jesus has won for all of us. Fear of dying simply shows that we do not believe in the ultimate happiness that we would feel when we become one with God himself. Our hoping to avoid or, at least, delay death, is also our despair for the promises of a new life in the life to come.
My dear friends, the sting of death has long been defeated by our Lord Jesus through his rising from the dead. He showed to us all that death is not a reason for us to live our lives in fear and misery. His rising from the dead is the ultimate proof of God’s mercy and love for all of us because he opened the gates of heaven for us when Christ rose from the dead. God never wanted his children to be apart from his love and so he willed that we must go back to him and share the happiness in his kingdom but one of the requirements is for us to embrace the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. Thereby, our death is our ultimate sharing in this Paschal Mystery and makes us heirs of his kingdom. Death for a Christian is an incredibly beautiful thing because it makes us one with our Creator and Lord. Our life as Christians must culminate on the cross.
Now we mourn the death of Tiya Ching. Her passing is a burden to bear for his loved ones. We have no option left but to let her go. Her death is beautiful not only because she is coming back home to her Lord but also because she is now capable of loving us more dearly because in heaven, she will always intercede for people whom she loved in her lifetime here on earth. Like what St. John told us in his gospel; “I will go and prepare a room for you for in my Father’s mansion, there are plenty of rooms for his faithful ones.”
Even in her death, Tiya Ching showed her love and devotedness to the Church. She was the main benefactor in building the Virac Cathedral. Without her, we will never realize the beauty of our Cathedral church as it stands now. She built her own place in God’s kingdom through her own efforts to help the Diocese of Virac build the Cathedral Parish church.
Farewell Tiya Ching… I know you are in a better place right now. You have built your place in God’s kingdom through your unlimited generosity. Rest-assured that my grateful heart will always cherish your goodness and support for the Diocese of Virac. Rest now in God’s embrace, God’s faithful servant.
St. Paul writes in his second letter to Timothy; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who loved his appearing.”
The race and the fight are over for Tiya Ching, but she will always live in our hearts, and she will always be alive in our Father’s home in heaven. God gave her the power over the sting of death because God loves her so dearly.