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TRANSCRIPT:
The Garden of Gethsemane! What images, pictures, feelings come to your mind when I say, “They were at a place called Gethsemane”?

Henri Nouwen leads us in our spiritual formation around one of the movements of the spirit that we don’t talk about much and that is death. Nouwen begins by describing a conversation between twins who find themselves still in the womb. The discussion centers around staying in their mother’s womb where everything seems comfortable to the one twin proclaiming, “I think we are being prepared for another beautiful place, with a wonderful person, our mother. Don’t you think that is exciting?”

As I move into the final phase of my life, I do begin to think about death in general and more specifically in my own life. If we are truly honest, we are afraid of death. But why? What is it about our own mortality that makes us afraid?

Nouwen shares with us his own inner experiences of this journey towards death. He shares with us experiences of close personal family and friends as well as his own near-death experiences. He challenges each of us to “befriend death.” Now, I must admit I struggle with this concept of “befriending death.” Death is final. It separates us from everything we know.

Yet, Nouwen invites us into this movement of the spirit to befriending death, claiming my belovedness, becoming a child again, and trusting the communion of the saints.

So how do we befriend death? Nouwen shares with us the story of Peter, who is a good friend and a deeply faithful Christian. Peter is going to die, and he asks the questions of Nouwen, “Why is this happening to me? I am angry with God. I don’t want to do it. I have more to live for so I don’t understand.”

Nouwen recalls his close brush with death. He was in a car accident with no visual outside bodily damage, but he suffered internal bleeding. He was close to death. He wasn’t ready. In that moment he realized he needed to do an inventory around forgiveness. Through this experience, he felt he was led by the spirit, from a place of fear to a place of unconditional love.

Nouwen guides us to see this journey towards death as an experience of becoming more deeply aware of God’s love and care. In Romans 8:38-39 it says, “Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord!”

Just as Jesus was beloved by God, so we too are to enter into the mystery of death with God’s love for us.

For Nouwen, becoming a child again means living a life of complete dependence on God. I have been with my grandson Miles and have been reminded of how dependent this little, young man is. Miles is dependent on his parents and many others to grow. Just as children are completely dependent on their parents, so we are to be completely dependent on God, especially in this transition from life to death to life again.

I had the good fortune to travel to the Holy Land and experience the place called Gethsemane. In the midst of the Olive Grove and the quiet spot away from the disciples, Jesus shares our struggle in befriending death. He too asks, “If this cup can pass him by.” But Jesus shows us the ultimate radical dependence and trust on the one he calls “Abba, Father.” Jesus’ experience leads us to contemplate our own death experience, by becoming a child, living into our belovedness as children of God, relying on the communion of saints, and truly being open to befriending death.

In the end it is about a radical trust in the one who calls us beloved. When we remember and think about the communion of the saints, we are reminded of those meaningful and deep relationships, and can only imagine what it will be like to be with God.

The major reflection is how befriending death connects to the other movements of the spirit.