Death : How will you die? Choosing a good death

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

John 18:1-19:42

DAILY BYTE

It seems that when people reach a time of death - their own or their loved ones’ - they find that it is the definitive crossroad moment of all of life. It is in at this juncture when we realize the hope that our death and the deaths of those we love will be good.

But, what is a good death? As we reach the cross today, we see the death of Christ, feel its agony, sense its passion, and grieve over its tragedy. If we have lost someone or are, indeed, anticipating our own death, then we know that all death holds a deep sense of grief and loss.

But we see in the beautiful, weighty and yet free words of the church liturgy for Ministration at the Time of Death in the Book of Common Prayer, that if we choose to die with Christ, although the grief is real, God still is able to reveal something good. And though many of our loved ones die an earthly death without our knowledge that they know Christ, we do know that God’s deepest desire is for every person to live and die and live again with him, and so even in the most tragic circumstances, we are a people who live in hope.

As we ponder how Jesus chose to die, hear these words of how the church - the body of Christ - approaches a good death from the Book of Common Prayer and ask yourself, how might I choose to die? Do I choose to die with Christ?:

Almighty God, look on this your servant, lying in great weakness, and comfort him/her with the promise of life everlasting, given in the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At the time of death - preferably surrounded by family and friends:
God the Father, Have mercy on your servant.
God the Son, Have mercy on your servant.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on your servant.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on your servant.
From all evil, from all sin, from all tribulation, Good Lord, deliver him/her.
By your holy Incarnation, by your Cross and Passion, by your precious Death and Burial,Good Lord, deliver him/her.
By your glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the Coming of the Holy Spirit, Good Lord, deliver him/her.
We sinners beseech you to hear us, Lord Christ: That it may please you to deliver the soul of your servant from the power of evil, and from eternal death, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please you mercifully to pardon all his/her sins, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to grant him/her a place of refreshment and everlasting blessedness, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

That it may please you to give him/her joy and gladness in your kingdom, with your saints in light, We beseech you to hear us, good Lord.

Jesus, Lamb of God: Have mercy on him/her.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: Have mercy on him/her.
Jesus, redeemer of the world: Give him/her your peace.

Deliver your servant, (name), O Sovereign Lord Christ, from all evil, and set him/her free from every bond; that s/he may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world; In the Name of God the Father Almighty who created you; In the Name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you; In the Name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you. May your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.

Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant,(name). Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him/her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.

May his/her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Question for reflection:

As you ponder the tragedy and wonder of Jesus’ good death on this Good Friday, how might you choose for your death to be “good”?

PRAYER

Pray the prayer from the Book of Common Prayer as your own or on behalf of a loved one in remembrance of Christ and in hope of the presence of that same Christ with you for the future.