Memento Mori: Prioritizing Death Over Deadlines
“We look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Death is a morbid subject, one that is often pushed to the side until we are forced to confront it with a requiem ceremony. The irony is that the Catholic faith is all about acknowledging or preparing for this transient event, including the commemoration of Jesus’ death and the practice of praying for holy souls.
Life before our earthly passing will become a testament to how we live out eternity, whether it be in perdition or in paradise. We must ask ourselves: Are we ready to open the door and shake hands with this unexpected guest (right before moving onto our next pressing assignment!)?
This, Too, Shall Pass
A couple years back, I sat through a thought-provoking homily in which a Dominican pastor kept reiterating the importance of this phrase: “This, too, shall pass.” He said that whatever we do, whether in suffering or in pleasure, we will all have to relinquish our pursuits eventually, because the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
We always want to be the chief executive of our life or, if not, at least to throw in suggestions on how God can accelerate or decelerate our career plans. We can see this desire when we stress over upcoming deadlines or dates and everything becomes urgent—failing to realize that no time is ever really promised to us.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, if it were possible, that the hour of suffering might pass by Him, too (Mark 14:35). We can place ourselves in that moment with Christ, kneeling in the grove, ready to abandon our incessant worry or excessive desire for control.
By following Jesus’ example and the example of His humble saints, we can place our lips to the cup of His Father’s holy will. In her diary, Saint Faustina took care to express gratitude and consent by writing, “I thank you Jesus, You who drink the first cup of bitterness; I want to drink this cup to its last drop and not seek to know the reason why.”
Whatever suffering you may be enduring in your Lenten journey, remember: This, too, shall pass, and “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).
Maybe you feel pressured about an upcoming presentation, or maybe you’re gloating each quarter about how well things are going for your business—forever bent on keeping it that way (Luke 12: 19-20). Again, this too shall pass. Take note of death’s whisper the same way Jesus took note of His coming passion in the garden. This silent preparation can help you surrender when you reach your most stressful times.
A Duel Between Two Fates
When preparing for a “sudden death” versus a “looming deadline,” which one has a greater impact on the righteous soul?
We are all called to prepare for these two outcomes in life. Many prefer to let the idea of sudden death slowly slip to the back of their mind rather than preparing for it. They prioritize work deadlines, which seem more urgent.
Then there are others who feel intensely stirred by the idea of sudden death and use it as a prompt to prepare for such an event. This type of person most likely has a profound moral and spiritual understanding of life, embodying what could be described as a righteous soul.
In order to stay on the righteous path, we can challenge ourselves to imitate Christ by reflecting more seriously on the afterlife (Colossians 3:2) than on grief (Matthew 16:22-23) and let it affect how we confront everyday matters in the workplace (Matthew 26:52).
Our daily prayers and devotions can provide us with a deeper understanding. The Hail Mary is a reminder of death, as is the conclusion of the Chaplet of Saint Michael. Saint Joseph, our spiritual father, is another guide, as he is the patron of a happy death. We must stay mindful of death in all that we do so that we can discern what will lead to our glory in Heaven and what will result in our eternal demise.
Certain career-defining moments may improve our character—or make us hasty and uncharitable with others. As we don’t know how long we have on this earth, let us use our fragile mortality as something to make us more like Christ, especially during this period of Lent that leads us straight into the joy of the resurrection.
“For the living know that they are to die, but the dead no longer know anything. There is no further recompense for them, because all memory of them is lost” (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
How can you allow the certainty of death to rethink how you surrender your will at work, during your most stressful times?
Berthe Emmanuella Antoine is an interior designer who sees no distinction between her work life and devotion to God. She fine tunes others on how to create beautiful habitations in Christ from their domestic surroundings to the innermost parts of their being. Her rule of life has led her to launch INTERIOREM VITAM, a Catholic decor blog and boutique with a sleek and classic aesthetic. She is forever whisked away into the intricacies of hidden devotions and the silence of the interior life. She hopes to build a fruitful community around the brand’s mobile app. Feel free to join and start a conversation with your comments.