End or Beginning of a New Life?
In today’s society, much of the suffering associated with death stems from our denial of it and the lack of a positive vision for life’s end. Many people believe that death marks the absolute cessation of human existence, and a final termination of life. However, this perspective is not shared by Christians. For us, death is not an end, but a new beginning. It is viewed as a transition to another existence, much like sleep is temporary and does not signify the person’s total disappearance. The Christian understanding is rooted in the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, which provides believers with a hope-filled vision for what comes after this earthly life. The Catholic Church emphasizes that every human life has inherent dignity and value. Living and dying with full awareness and grace is considered a path to upholding that dignity. While secular culture may often encourage a fear of death or an avoidance of its reality, the Church urges its faithful to approach death with a sense of wonder and faith, rather than with fear and anxiety.
As Christians, we also understand death as “a return to the dust,” reflecting the biblical teaching that since the fall of Adam and Eve, humanity has been subject to mortality (Gen 3:19). Yet, this does not imply the total cessation of life. While the physical body may decay and return to the earth, the soul, which is immortal, continues to exist. Losing a loved one is undeniably painful, regardless of their age. However, Christians find comfort in believing that death is not the final chapter. Expressions like “endlessness of eternity,” “threshold of eternity,” and “glimpse into the other side” suggest that there is more to life than what we experience here on earth. In Christian faith, death marks the end of this present life, but signals the beginning of another.
Fr Arnald Mahesh SDB
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