Father John Neuhaus's Farewell

Many of you know about the recent passing of Father John Neuhaus, editor of First Things.  In the February issue of First Things he mentioned his own struggle with cancer and spoke words which to some degree I am already able to embrace but hope much more to embody in the future.  For my Protestant friends, please don't let some of the Roman Catholic particularities here cause you to miss the forest for the trees.  This is one of the most compelling expressions I have read of how to live life in a fallen world for those who are facing illness and those who aren't.

“As of this writing, I am contending with a cancer, presently of unknown origin. … I am grateful beyond measure for your prayers storming the gates of heaven. Be assured that I neither fear to die nor refuse to live. If it is to die, all that has been is but a slight intimation of what is to be.  If it is to live, there is much that I hope to do in the interim. … Who knew that at this point in life I would be understanding, as if for the first time, the words of Paul, ‘When I am weak, then I am strong’? This is not a farewell. Please God, we will be pondering together the follies and splendors of the Church and the world for years to come. But maybe not. In any event, when there is an unidentified agent in your body aggressively attacking the good things your body is intended to do, it does concentrate the mind. The entirety of our prayer is ‘Your will be done’ — not as a note of resignation but of desire beyond expression. To that end, I commend myself to your intercession and that of all the saints and angels who accompany us each step through time toward home.”

May we all neither fear to die nor refuse to live!!

HT - NCRegister.com

Comments

[chrisdat]

One of the most compelling books I have read is Richard John Neuhaus's "As I lay dying". It is a small book with his meditations as he was dying in the hospital due to tragic circumstances. At the time he did not know he would heal.

I've often said, that if I was facing serious disease I would want to read this book. I've given this book to a friend with pancreatic cancer (she is doing well at almost 5 years). It deeply influenced her living. So it's a book for the living.

I say all this as a Presbyterian (PCA). There is very little in the book that you have to look past. Highly recommend.

Your in my prayers, Chris Dattilo

[Julana]

Neuhaus left a great body of work. He was a gift to the church.

[Jim]

One of the great Xian thinkers, not given to pat answers of difficult questions. Oh that there were many more like him.

I stopped refusing to live long ago, but I hope I can face death with kind of grace presented by Father Neuhaus.