Reflection from Dcn. Jack Alexander

Brothers,

 

 We have heard a lot about death over these past several weeks of Coronavirus. The high numbers, those who died without family, those who could not have funerals because of social distancing and parish shutdowns. Death, for many people, is not an easy subject to talk about. We believe in the mercy of God and are baptized into the Eternal Life He promises, but for many, when death happens the consoling truths of our faith don’t always give us comfort when death is still raw. Later on, we find comfort and peace in knowing our loved one is in the hands of God, hands much gentler than our, hands much safer than ours.  

 

 This sentence of consolation, he is in hands much safer than ours, she is in hands much gentler than ours, may bring more consolation than the usual “He/she is in a better place,” particularly when the deceased is a young person we feel is too young to go off in death alone. This is also true in the case of someone who dies in a far from an ideal situation, such as we are experiencing now, either the coronavirus or being denied health care for a non-essential illness, or a senseless accident or someone who has never been free of bad circumstances. Our unspoken fear is always there, should have been more time, we should have done something more, been more vigilant or supportive, we should have been able to make things better. In each of these cases, nothing can be more consoling than to believe that our loved one is now in far safer and gentler hands than our own.

 

 But is this wishful thinking, whistling in the dark to keep up our courage in the face of our own pending death? Not if we believe in Jesus and his promises. Everything Jesus reveals about God assures us that God’s hands are much gentler and safer than our own. God is the father of the prodigal son and as we see in this parable, God is more understanding and compassionate to us than we are too ourselves. God does not wait for us to return and apologize after we turn away from him. He runs out to meet us and as the son tries to apologize he ignores him and welcomes him with open arms. He does not leave us on our own after we sin, to come to our senses and return repentantly to him. Rather he leaves the ninety-nine and comes looking for us, anxious, longing, and ready to carry us home in spite of our sins.

 

 Jesus gives us too the assurance that God does not give us one chance but, seventy-seven times seven chances. We don’t ruin our lives by making a mistake or making the same mistake over and over again. St. Paul, also tells us it doesn’t matter if we can’t ever get our lives right because in the end nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God, his grace, or his forgiveness.  We are in this life and in the next in hands far gentler and safer than ours.

 

 Our God is not a god of punishment, but a God of forgiveness. God is not a god that records our sins, but God who washes them away. God is not a God who demands perfection, but a God who asks for a contrite heart when we cannot measure up. God is not a God who gives us only one chance, but infinite chances. God is not a God who waits for us to come to our senses after we have fallen, but a God who comes searching for us, full of understanding and care. God is not a God who is calculating and stingy with his gifts, but a God who sows seeds everywhere without regard for waste or worthiness. God is not arbitrary or fickle, but a God who is utterly reliable in his promise and goodness.

 

 In the end, God is not a God who cannot protect us, but is a God in whose hands and in whose promise we are far safer than when we rely on ourselves. No matter the situation, no matter what we have done or failed to do, we are in God’s hands.

 

Rejoice and be glad.

 

Peace,

 

Deacon Jack Alexander