All Turns to Silver Glass

There is a very powerful scene in the movie “The Return of the King” from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, written by J.R.R. Tolkien and brought to the screen by Peter Jackson.  A trilogy many of us have either seen on the big screen or read in High School or college.  For those who have not read or seen the movies, they are powerful indeed.  Both the movies and the books bring home and make very clear the notion of “good vs. evil” and the power of sacrifice.

The scene I want to share with you was that between Pippin and Gandalf.  They are defending the city vs the enemy, but things are going bad, and the city is beginning to fall.  Death seems inevitable.  Pippin turns to Gandalf and says, “I didn’t think it would end this way,” Gandalf turns to Pippin with a grandfatherly type of face, a face of love, and gently says, “End, no the journey doesn’t end here, death is just another path, one that we all must take.  The grey rain curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass and then you see it.”  Gandalf takes a deep breath, Pippin’s eyes are in wonder and he asks Gandalf, “See what Gandalf, see what?  With a smile Gandalf responds, “White shores and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.  Pippin now reassured, says, “That isn’t so bad.”  And finally Gandalf says, “No, no it isn’t.”

The scene is powerful as it gets us to think and reflect on life and death and that this is not the end, even if there is destruction, havoc, and chaos all around us.  There is a promise of life, given to us by God.

The first reading today from Wisdom reminds us that, “God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him.”  Yet, death entered the world through sin, as the same reading reminds us, “God did not make death.”  The first thing we think of is the unfairness of suffering and dying.  Why do little children die or even suffer, is that fair?  This reflection is not so much centered on the justice or injustice of suffering and dying, but rather in the promise of eternal life.  Suffice it to say, some suffering and dying does seem unfair, nevertheless no one lives or dies in vain.

All of us like to be reassured that there is life after death, that we continue, that we will reunite with family and friends, and most of all that we will see God face to face.

We believe in life after death through many means, even through scientific means.  You might be thinking, “How can we know that there is life after death through science, I never thought that could be proven?”  Well, it can’t be proven as in, here I can show you, but rather through reason.  Take energy for example.  Can energy ever go into nonexistence?  No it cannot!  Some scientists will argue that energy or the law concerning the conservation of energy can neither be created nor destroyed.  We argue the same with one difference; energy was created for it cannot come from nothing, hence a beginning, but no end.  Energy must and always returns to its source.  We are made of energy, electrical impulses and the like.  Don’t touch a live wire, for we are conduits in some way, i.e. via water, and that type of charge throws off the charge in us and stops our hearts if enough energy flows through us.  Basically we are energy.  As Catholics we call our energy “soul or spirit.”  When the body passes away, the soul returns to its source, God.

The above is a very fundamental way of describing our energy, I am sure a Christian who is a scientist could do a much better job than I, but you get the point.  You see, we can argue about life after death with non-believers without even going to Scripture.  As Catholic Christians though, we can also go to the Bible to see and learn about the promises given by God.

In many places throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament God is referred to as , “The God of Abraham, the God Of Isaac, and the God Jacob,” and in other places as , “The God of our Fathers.”  Jesus uses the first term when arguing with the Sadducees over the resurrection, claiming, “How can God be the God of the dead, when He says, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?”  God is the God of the living, even though all humans die, they will live forever with God.

The question in Scripture is not so much based on a proof, but rather more on faith and believing in the One who made the promise.  Why do I believe Jesus?  The question comes down to, is He good on His word?  I for one believe that He was.  In society we judge others according to how they live first, then we acknowledge their message, if their living does not match their words, then we dismiss them as hypocrites.   Now granted, even the best of us are at least small hypocrites due to our sinful nature, but Jesus was not so, His actions were perfect and they gave great credibility to His words.  And, His final sacrifice is a great proof of His actions speaking louder than His words, but also giving His words undeniable validity.

There is one final thing and that is what we have come to know as near death experiences or those who were clinically dead and then return to life.  All of them basically have the same story, with some differences obviously, but the same in the fact that they are alive, they know they are alive and many communicate with loved ones, or at least recognize them, others have seen angels, or saints, or the patriarchs, and a few have even seen and communicated with the Blessed Mother or even Christ Himself.  Is there some scientific explanation as to why they all have a similar experience?  Some would argue these are simply end of life brain functions, though I personally think that unlikely.  Some come back explaining things and situations in full detail.  God does not typically work this way, through extraordinary means, or grand miracles, but every so often He does to send us reminders and to affirm our beliefs.

In the end though, whether we look to the truth about energy and that our souls are energy, if we examine Scripture or read of those who have come back, it still does not satisfy every whim and curiosity we have, rather our belief rests on faith, belief that Jesus told the Truth and I believe Him because I love Him.

Remember, the journey doesn’t end here, death is a path we all must take, the final sacrament if you will, leaving the womb of this earth to be with our God, family, and friends for ever.  That doesn’t sound so bad does it?  No, no it doesn’t.

Fr. John