O DEATH WHERE IS YOUR STING?

            The apostle asks, “O death where is thy victory, O death where is thy sting” (1Cor. 15: 55). Every day we continue to experience the sting and many victories of death around us. The sorrows, the pains, the nights of weeping and the painful thoughts that assail us daily, as we remember our loved ones, whom we cannot see or touch. We remember the happy memories, and even the bitter memories leave us with desire to see them again. Sometimes, we laugh and form to be strong outside but in the loneliness of our rooms we shed tears of hopelessness. How, then, can the apostle ask O death where is thy sting or thy victory? Is it not obvious in the immense pains and sorrows death causes us daily? Look at the little orphans that go through hell on earth because of death. Look at the widows maltreated daily because of death. Look at the youth who have to go through many troubles in catering for their families because of death. Can we not obviously see the stings of death all around us?

            What then is left for us in the face of so much sorrow and many more potential sorrows. Potential because death will continue to leave humanity with sorrows and pains. Either we are pained by the death of our loved ones or our loved ones are pained by own death; either ways, death has its sting on us. St. Theresa exclaimed that she realized what this life is all about a journey with continuous partings. If this were the case, what then is the need for all our acquisitions, our wealth, our knowledge, our titles, even our sanctity. What is life all about if at last death will give us a sting that will take all this away. Many are of the opinion that good name is worth living for, leaving an everlasting legacy. Surely, this is sweet and beautiful but nevertheless, of what advantage is it for us to leave a legacy. St. Theresa, even, said that if she becomes a canonized saint, it is of no gain to her, it is rather for the benefit of those alive who will imitate her to gain everlasting life.

            Thus, it is only our hope in the resurrection that justifies all our struggles, strives and aspirations. It is our hope that, since Christ is raised, we too believing in him, will in turn be raised with him. St. Paul tell us in the 15^th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, “If Christ was not raised, you are still in your sins, those who have fallen asleep in Christ are deadest of the dead. If our hopes in Christ are limited in this life only, we are the most pitiable of men…. if the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” (1Cor. 15:18-19 33). However, he goes further to say “In fact, however, Christ, has been raised from the dead, as the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20). Here lies all our hope and reason to struggle: Our Hope in Christ. This alone makes life meaningful. This alone makes all the sorrows and pains and crosses we face every day meaningful.

            Thus, if our lives do not conform to that of those who will participate in the resurrection, then we are the most pitiable of men. For who is there who do not have daily crosses, and worst of all death to face at last. Let us dedicate our lives to Christ, in joyful hope of the resurrection. Only this can give meaning to all we encounter daily in this valley of tears. Only then can we say with St. Paul “Death is swallowed up in victory, O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? (1 Cor. 15: 54-55)

I dedicate this to my Brother, Louis Nnamdi Okoyeocha, may his souls rest in peace. Amen.

Friar Okoyeocha Ikechukwu Calistus, OFM Cap.