First Things First

It may be we are just a few days into the new year, and that a little more than a week ago we were celebrating the birth of another year with high expectations and hopes for a better year, a more rewarding year, one filled with great joy, peace, and etc. But even as we pray and hope and believe, we continue to be disturbed by that great "leveller" of all things human - death, happening all around us.

The fighting and bombing in Gaza by both Hamas and Israeli forces have now gone on for almost two weeks with seemingly no end in sight. In the meantime, innocent people from both sides, especially local Palestinians continue to pay the price. In the days just before the new year and since, we have read about the rising number of untimely deaths due to road accidents. For some strange reason, last night before knocking off to sleep, my mind kept recalling people in my life who have passed on. Some were relatives, others were close friends and acquaintances.

A few hours ago, I checked my mail and learnt that Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, the founder of the online journal First Things, had passed away earlier this morning Malaysian time. He had been suffering from cancer for the past few years.

Fr. who? I hate to admit it but it had been just recently that I'd become familiar with Fr. Neuhaus' writings. And, off and on, I'd browse his website. So, while he was someone whose writings and thoughts I came to admire, he was not someone whom I knew, even remotely.

Maybe others, like the CNA (Catholic News Agency), can paint a more accurate picture. According to it, the tributes have been pouring in from all across America for someone who's been described as mentor, advisor, friend, and spiritual father. In addition, Fr. Neuhaus had also been involved in many intellectual and spiritual pursuits culminating in the First Things journal, which tackled both secular and sacred issues.

Also, Fr. John Malloy, S.D.B., in his blog A Shepherd's Voice writes that Fr. Neuhaus was "a holy priest, prolific writer, founder of Frist Things, and fierce defender of life he will be deeply missed by his countless friends and by the pro-life movement of the USA".

It's strange and at the same time gratifying to know that someone can have so much influence over another. Even over me.

Incidentally, Fr. Neuhaus had written an essay entitled "Born toward Dying" which was first published in the February 2000 issue of First Things. I think it's almost the most "complete" dissertation on the subject of dying. It's thought provoking, emotional, at times even a "struggle" to understand. Read it here.

In the same way, I rather like the following words (believe it or not!) from Pope Paul VI (1897-1978):

“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”