Heidegger on Death and the Apocalypse

Gospel          
November 15, 2009
33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time      
Mk. 13:24-32
By: Lester C. Yee

There has been much fascination about the end of the world or when the apocalypse would be. Hollywood has made a lot of money from a lot of box office hits on the end of days and lately 2012. Most of these get their details from either the Nostradamus predictions or the above passage from the Bible.

The fear of people in meeting their end surrounds articles and claims by psychics, doomsday writers, soothsayers and practical jokers. Many people refuse to talk about the apocalypse or even about death, a more certain reality for every human being.

Death is a part of every life. In fact, death is one of the most personal parts of one’s life. No one can die for any person except the person himself or herself. Being a taboo, nobody likes to talk about death. Death is a hushed reality with people being fed on false hopes of longevity. Anti-aging medicine and research on genetic cures to old age are very well-funded as the human being longs to conquer death.

But as a person starts to claim his death, to accept the reality of dying, the person starts to live a fuller life. The person becomes open to the reality of his non-existence. Thus, as a consequence, the person lives every day as if it were his or her last day on Earth.

Perhaps this is what Jesus has been encouraging his apostles to think. The end and the Apocalypse is a certain reality. Science claims that our sun will die and with it, all life on Earth. Meteors may also shorten the process. Moreover, the way we are killing the environment already puts certain places in great danger of being erased on the map.

The End is certain. Perhaps we are also challenged to live everyday as if it were the last day of the Earth, the day before the Apocalypse, when the Son of Man comes back. And when Jesus does come back, what are we going to tell Him?