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When Death Dies
Ancient Faith Ministries ^ | February 22, 2022 | Fr. Stephen Freeman

Posted on 02/22/2022 5:59:17 AM PST by Carpe Cerevisi

"Christianity is not reconciliation with death. It is the revelation of death, and it reveals death because it is the revelation of Life. Christ is this Life. And only if Christ is Life is death what Christianity proclaims it to be, namely the enemy to be destroyed, and not a “mystery” to be explained. Religion and secularism, by explaining death, give it a “status,” a rationale, make it “normal.” Only Christianity proclaims it to be abnormal and, therefore, truly horrible. At the grave of Lazarus Christ wept, and when His own hour to die approached, “he began to be sore amazed and very heavy.” In the light of Christ, this world, this life are lost and are beyond mere “help,” not because there is fear of death in them, but because they have accepted and normalized death." (Fr. Alexander Schmemann, For the Life of the World)

In the normal course of events, among the things we expect can be included is the death of those we love. If it comes at the end of a long, happy life, accompanied by minor suffering, we tend to think of it as a “good” death. Disney has popularized the notion of the “Circle of Life”: one dies, another is born, and “life” continues. It makes for a very catchy song. But, of course, death does not obey such rules. It is not a Disney film.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.ancientfaith.com ...


TOPICS: General Discusssion; Orthodox Christian; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: death; despair; hope; salvation
The latest blog post from Fr. Stephen Freeman.
1 posted on 02/22/2022 5:59:17 AM PST by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: Carpe Cerevisi

Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by Death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing Life


2 posted on 02/22/2022 6:05:01 AM PST by JoanSmith
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To: JoanSmith

Amen!


3 posted on 02/22/2022 6:19:43 AM PST by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: Carpe Cerevisi

Death is an illusion. You can look high and low in our universe and all you will ever find is life. You don’t cease to be when you die physically - you just change.

Was it an easy transition when you changed from a child into an adult? Probably not. But your life continued on. Physical death is the same. You will find that once you have reached the other side of it, you will still be alive.


4 posted on 02/22/2022 6:37:08 AM PST by Scarlett156 (Someone with "comedian" on his social media profile is invariably a self-hating sadistic loser.)
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To: Scarlett156

I just lost my brother-in-law, who, along with my older sister, rescued me from a dysfunctional home and raised me. Lost her two years ago...lost him last Tuesday. This was very comforting


5 posted on 02/22/2022 6:57:37 AM PST by freepertoo
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To: freepertoo

You’ll see them again. ;) That’s one thing everybody gets to do.


6 posted on 02/22/2022 7:00:25 AM PST by Scarlett156 (Someone with "comedian" on his social media profile is invariably a self-hating sadistic loser.)
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To: freepertoo

I’m very sorry to hear that. May their memories be eternal!


7 posted on 02/22/2022 7:09:16 AM PST by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: Carpe Cerevisi

Bookmark


8 posted on 02/22/2022 8:17:02 AM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. )
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