Five Minute Friday: Kate provides a word every Friday. The writer sets a timer for 5 minutes and writes whatever comes to mind.
BOTH
I wasn't going to join the linky this week, but Saturday morning the word "both" jumped out at me as I was praying the Liturgy of the Hours:
Both in life and death we are the Lord's. That is why Christ died and came to life again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. --Romans 14:8-9
As I read the Daily Mass Readings, this was in the Psalm:
Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. --Psalm 116:15
2 faithful men that I know passed away over the course of this week. During Mass, one would always pray that he be a good father to his children during the intentions. The other I would call a little "rough around the edges". The last time I saw him was during Mass. He and his wife held hands through most of it. One man's death was sudden, and the other as a result of cancer.
My mom's death was sudden; with my father's each of my 9 siblings and I had time alone with him. God knows what He's doing when He calls us home. Each death is different but each is beautiful. Be faithful to God in life and He will be merciful in death.
I appreciated your post. I also wrote about the loss of a loved one: in my case my dad, who died 2 weeks ago. That verse from Psalm 116 is really comforting.
ReplyDeleteJeannie (next door to you in the linkup at #21)
2 weeks. So the grief is still very much real. Prayers to you, your family, and the soul of your father.
DeleteYou reminded me of the last verse of In Christ Alone:
ReplyDelete'No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand'
I work in palliative care so it's good to be reminded of God's presence and blessing in life and death.
Thank you.
Your FMF Neighbour #22
Oh gosh, I love that song! Thank you for that!
DeleteAs I'm running out of breath,
ReplyDeletethere's a grace I'm looking toward,
that both living and in death
I am precious to the Lord.
There are those who say the end comes when heart ceases to beat,
and it's useless to pretend
that we don't become dead meat,
but this crosses many lines
to ignore that which is real,
that in Jesus' life and times
it mattered not what one might feel
about the chances of His rising;
it's what He DID, a truth surprising!
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Delete