Today, we pray for the dead. We do this because, as Christians, we are in communion with the Saints and with those on their journey to sainthood. All Souls’ Day is important, not only because we remember the deceased, but also because it brings the reality of death to the forefront. It reminds us that one day, we too will face death. But as Christians, our goal is not just to die—it’s to die a “glorious death,” a death that leads to eternal life with God. Jesus Christ our Lord shows us the way.
Baptized into Christ’s Death
In today’s Scripture reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 6:3-9), we hear in verse 3: “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death?” What does it mean to be baptized into Christ’s death? The phrase “into His death” points to a particular kind of death, suggesting that not all deaths are the same. What sets Christian faith apart is the belief in Christ’s victory over death. St. Paul speaks about this unique death in Romans 6:8 when he writes about dying with Christ and rising with Him.
In other words, baptism is not just an initiation into the life of Christ—it’s an initiation into Christ’s entire identity and destiny, including His death. Venerable Fulton Sheen once famously said, “Everyone was born to live, except Christ, who was born to die.” Christ’s death was intentional, designed to bring eternal victory over Satan, sin, and death itself.
We often reflect on the life of Christ and life in Christ, but how often do we consider what it means to die with Christ? Being baptized into His death means we don’t face death with fear, anxiety, or hopelessness. Nor do we approach the end of our lives with the hysteria that often surrounds thoughts of “the last day” or “doomsday.” Just as baptism into Christ transforms our understanding of life as a mission of serving God and others, it also transforms how we view death—we wait for it in hope, not dread.
Waiting in Hope for Death
As Christians, we must wrap the reality of death in hope, or else it becomes either a terrifying prospect or a tempting escape from life’s challenges. Neither perspective is fitting for a believer in Christ. The best way to anticipate death is to weave it into our daily mission of living. St. Paul writes, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). This “daily death” is the secret to living fully. Dying daily means stripping away what is frivolous and eliminating anything that doesn’t align with our God-given purpose. Death becomes painful only when something good is cut short. But if we practice dying to the negative aspects of our lives—such as sin, bad habits, and inconsistency—over time, only what is good and true will remain within us.
Because this process of “daily death” is so challenging, God sometimes gifts us with suffering. These unpleasant experiences, though difficult to endure, cleanse us. They rid us of arrogance, indifference, lack of empathy, unforgiveness, laziness, impurity, and other faults. As Hebrews 12:6 reminds us, “The Lord disciplines the one He loves.” These hardships, though painful, kill off the parts of us that are not aligned with God’s will, preparing us to die well and live fully.
