blessed are those who die in the Lord

The reading today from the One Year Bible is in Revelation 14:1-20. John tells us that those who die in the Lord from now on will be blessed.

The picture above is kinda creepy, isn't it? But it reminds me of a cemetery in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. I spent seven months in Grand Coteau when I was a Jesuit novice. And walking in that cemetery from time to time gave great perspective.

One day we will all lie in a cemetery somewhere. How do you want your life to have been? What do you want to be remembered by? What regrets do you want to avoid?

These are questions we can answer now, and then be happier with our answers when we join those who are blessed, who die in the Lord.

God, thanks for giving us perspective.