GETTING READY TO DIE

“At last I can die, now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive.” –Genesis 46:30

Mass Readings: July 14
First: Genesis 46:1-7,28-30; Resp: Psalm 37:3-4,18-19,27-28,39-40 ; Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Listen to the Mass Readings

Simeon prayed: “Now, Master, You can dismiss Your servant in peace” (Lk 2:29). Simeon was ready to die because he had seen Christ.

St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was ready to die because shortly before his death he saw “an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand” (Acts 7:56).

Death is knocking at the door. Jesus also stands at the door of our lives and knocks (Rv 3:20). If we open the door, see Jesus, and give our lives to Him, we are ready to die and to live.

Jesus promised: “Blest are the single-hearted for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). To see Jesus is not a matter of the eyes but of the heart (see Eph 1:18). When we see Jesus to be our Lord, Savior, and God, then we have a new life, a life stronger than death.

See Jesus. Love Jesus. Live in Jesus. Die in Jesus. Live forever in Jesus.

PRAYER: Father, enlighten “the eyes of my heart” (Eph 1:18, our transl).
PROMISE: “When they hand you over, do not worry about what you will say or how you will say it. When the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. You yourselves will not be the speakers; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.” –Mt 10:19-20
PRAISE: St. Kateri was baptized at age twenty and died at age twenty-four, attending Mass every day.