Accompanying the Dying

 2018-02-25 2 Death is a stranger 1
Modern Western society has become a stranger to death
The last taboo
We’ve become awkward around the dying and the grieving
We need to rediscover the Christian art of dying well
Rob Moll, The Art of Dying 3 Learning from how Jesus died 1
The “power of death” (Heb 2:14)
Alienation from our own bodies
Alienation from our communities
Alienation from God
Some people around Jesus responded to these threats by sharing the burden of his dying
Attended to his embodied self
Attended to his relational self
Attended to his spiritual self 4 Attending to the needs of the body: The gift of service 1
Serving Jesus
Mary (Mk 14:3-9)
Simon of Cyrene (Mk 15:21)
The sponge-bearer (Mk 15:36)
Joseph of Arimathea (Mk 15:43-46)
For us
Hospice nurse: “Much of what the dying and their families need can be given by non- professionals, caring friends, and churches”
Meals, notes, rides, respite care 5 Attending to relationships: The gift of presence 1
Being present to Jesus: the women
of Jerusalem (Lk 23:27-31)
at the Cross (Mk 15:40-41)
For us
Completing relationships:
“Please forgive me”
“I forgive you”
“Thank you”
“I love you”
Tell stories
Quiet presence 6 Attending to the spirit: The gift of shared prayer 1
Jesus was God-forsaken, and had no spiritual support 1 2018-02-25
His disciples didn’t stay awake to pray with him (Mk 15:37-41)
Only recognized by a thief (Lk 23:42) and his executioner (Mk 15:39)
For us
Read Scripture
Sing hymns and songs
Pray
Help with a life review / story 2