I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1:20
“Mature materiality lives in the awareness that we will die; our bodies (selves) are transient. The illusion of immortality in our culture is sustained (and required!) by the expectation that the next product will make us healthy, keep us young, and refuse our diminishment.
Mature materiality is under no such illusion and prepares for the dying of a good death. Such preparation, however, is not resignation. It is rather an act of hope, for mature materiality lives in anticipation of the resurrection of the body after the manner of the Easter Christ.
Mistaken spirituality has led to the seduction of immortality, the idea that there is something about us that does not die. Buoyant faith trusts otherwise; it affirms that the giver of broken bread is the Lord of life and the Lord of our futures.”
Walter Brueggemann in Materiality As Resistance: Five Elements for Moral Action in the Real World (Louisville: WJKP, 2020), 49-50.
The world presents an illusion of immortality. We must not succumb to this seduction. Or pour God’s money toward it. We must instead, prepare for a good death while living, and we do well to exhibit buoyant faith in the process.
Sure, we will someday die, so let’s live each day to the fullest and honoring God with our living, giving, serving, and loving. I am learning this from my parents as they age and face some health challenges.
I am praying for today’s Scripture to be true for them and every reader. For Christ to be exalted in our lives and in our death. The Charlie Kirk incident, of course, illustrates this. But I pray it be true of each of us.
Charlie prepared for death by how he lived his life. Each of us needs to prepare for a good death whenever it comes. A good death is not living long; a good death is a God-timed ending of a life lived generously with buoyant faith in God.