Fast 40: Practicing the Ancient Spiritual Discipline of LentSample

There is a smiling skull on my bookshelf. It is what Church tradition calls Memento Mori, which in Latin means “remember your death.” But how do I remember my death?

I do it by remembering that when I was baptized, I was “baptized into Christ’s death” (Romans 6:3)—a moment marking the life of repentance I now live.

I also remember the death of my old man (Ephesians 4:22), whom I am called to deny daily by self-mortification. I am called to remember that, as Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).

Lastly, I remember my death by acknowledging that one day I shall die. By some unfortunate circumstance, I will one day breathe my last. Like every other person on this earth, at some point, my heart will stop beating, my body will begin to decompose, and I will be buried. As Paul says in Hebrews, “it is appointed for men to die once, and after that the Judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

I will die, stand before God, and be held accountable for my actions on this earth (2 Corinthians 5:10). In that way, I am reminded of my future death—not to fear it, but to fear God, who offers me everlasting life.

And by that fact, I am further inspired to fear sin, which is the only thing that can prevent me from reaching that final good.