By Fr Pat. Amobi Chukwuma
Death simply defined is the cessation of bodily metabolism. Every living thing is mortal. It is quite clear that death is no respecter of persons. Every Dick and Harry understood this when a popular and strong man in my area known as Anwuanwu (Immortal) suddenly slumped and died instantly while he was doing his routine morning exercise.
There was absolute quietness all over his village when the sad news broke out. All the villagers retired into their houses and locked their doors tight from that morning till night. The fear of death gripped everybody. Even the famous village chief locked his palace when he heard the sudden demise of Anwuanwu. A certain funny man cladded himself in black from head to toe with human skull in his left hand as he knocked at the door of family members gripped with the fear of death.
He knocked and knocked. One of the inmates shouted, “Please who are you?” The funny intruder answered, “I am Honourable Death. Kindly open the door. I want to deliver a parcel to one of you.” With one voice the inmates responded, “Back to sender! Death is not our portion!” Hardly did they know that one of the wooden windows was unlocked. Thus Hon. Death tactically jumped into the room in complete death attire.
The trembling family members all sought to escape but there was no way. They clasped at each other with their eyes closed. Hon. Death spoke in esoteric voice, “I am here to deliver fifty million Naira to any of you who volunteers to die in the next six months.” There was an interlude of silence. After some minutes, one of the inmates who has been living in abject poverty raised up his hand and said, “Hon. Death, please give me the N50million.
It is better that I make merry for six months and die joyfully than to live in perpetual dreadful wretchedness.” Then, the August visitor called Hon Death asserted, “Because of your courage in the face of death, I hereby decree that you will live for sixty years more.
As for the rest, all of you will die one after the other within the next three months.” They shouted together, “Please give us the N50million!” Hon Death asserted, “No, it is too late.” He left unnoticed. Tears of imminent death started to flow like a river.
The wise William Shakespeare said that death is a necessary end which must come when it will come. Julius Caesar once said, “Cowards die many time before their deaths, but the valiant never taste of death but once.” It has been destined by God since the unfortunate fall of Adam and Eve from grace to grass that death is a debt every human being must pay.
Man is made of body and soul. The body is liable to death while the soul is immortal. Our Christian faith makes us to understand that death is not annihilation. It is rather the end of a new beginning. It is a transition from mortality to immortality. Death should not be a painful exit but a glorious exit.
It is not sun set at dawn, but sun rise in the morning. In the former days, Christians used to mourn the dead in black attire. Today the mourning attire is white. Black attire denotes hopelessness. However, this does not mean that black people are hopeless. It is only their external skins that are black due to harsh weather.
The soul is white even though it is a spirit. That is why, when you go to heaven all transformed people there are basking in white glory. Racial segregation is not an attribute of heavenly glory.
In human language, death is a necessary evil due to the temporal separation involved when our loved ones die. On the other hand, death is good due to the sacrificial death of our Saviour Jesus Christ who died to save sinful humanity on that Good Friday. Death is good if we die in peace with God and our fellow human beings. We always pray for a happy death.
On the other hand, death is evil if we die in the state of malicious iniquity. The Governor of Benue State, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, lamented recently that the 2025 Good Friday was turned into Black Friday in Benue State due to the brutal murder of about 71 innocent citizens of the state by bloody terrorists. In Plateau State about 150 innocent citizens, mostly Christians, were also gruesomely murdered by the evil marauders in the Christian Holy Week 2025.
May their souls rest in peace and may God console the bereaved families. The evil that men do, live with them. Insecurity is the greatest problem in Nigeria today. While the Nigerian citizens were being massacred in Plateau and Benue States, the President of Nigeria and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and Chief Security Officer was holidaying in France.
A good leader should abandon everything and rush home to save his flock from the hands of blood suckers. Now that he is back, he must take the bull by the horn by making security of lives his priority. The National Assembly should likewise rise to the occasion and stop playing jamboree in the Senate and House of Representatives while the Nation is burning and flowing with innocent bloods. Even though Jesus Christ has made death the optimal good, innocent Nigerians should die natural death and not wicked death.
Jesus Christ suffered, died and resurrected on the third day. Hence, the resurrection is our hope. Saint Paul says that if Christ died and did not resurrect, then, our faith is fruitless and our life becomes useless (1 Cor. 15:14). The Prophet Ezekiel underlies the fact that dead bones will rise again.
In other words, there is life after death. Three things await each and every one of us still living. They are death, judgment, heaven or hell. The question that rings bell is: Where will you and I spend our eternity, in heaven or hell? We shall all reap what we sowed on earth, whether good or bad (Galatians 6:7). A stich in time, they say, saves nine.
When we were joyfully celebrating the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday and its Octave, there was breaking news from Vatican City Rome that the 266th Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, died gracefully in the morning of Easter Monday 2025. On Easter Sunday being April 20, 2025 he came out smiling in a wheel chair to salute his normal Easter audience.
In the midst of his serious sickness, he waved at the congregation and imparted his last blessings on them. Hardly did the zealous and happy audience know that it was his last outing on earth. On Easter Monday morning he died peacefully as a result of stroke and uncontrollable heart failure. Farewell Pope Francis! We miss you! By the grace of God we shall meet to part no more on the Resurrection Day. Adieu Papst Francesco! Adieu the Pope of God and of all Nations!
The remains of the late Pontiff were laid to rest on Saturday 26 April 2025. He was a Jesuit priest and the first Latin American Pope. He was always basking in joy and smiles. He lived and preached the Gospel of Mercy and Compassion. If he were to be the judge of the dead, heaven will be open for all, except for hardened sinners. He left a legacy of compassion and commitment to inclusivity.
He was the first Pope to include women in the affairs of the Vatican City. He allowed the feet of men and women to be washed on Holy Thursday celebration of the Lord’s Supper. With his good qualities and human heart, there is no doubt that Pope Francis is now rejoicing among the Saints of God. If I have the capacity, I would canonize him here and now. Nevertheless, since no human being is perfect, may God temper justice with mercy on the departed Pope Francis.
I wish God will give him an eternal seat beside Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Saint John Paul II is already experiencing the Beatific Vision. I hope Pope Benedict XVI and all the faithful departed are there also. Kindly pray for us who are still on the battle field! God be with you till we meet again. And may God through the prayerful assistance of the College of Cardinals in their Conclave elect a worthy successor of late Pope Francis. Amen!!!
