“We desire all of life and love because God made our hearts and gave us something of his boundless heart.”

“Life is a school in which we are trained to depart.”

“It is through death that we deeply touch life.”

“Learning how to die has something to do with living each day

in full awareness that we are children of God, whose love is stronger than death.”

“Jesus’ farewell brings a quiet invitation to understand our life

as a constant departure from the familiar to the eternal,

from what we enjoy in temporary ways to what we will one day enjoy forever.”

(Henry Nouwen, “TURN MY MOURNING INTO DANCING”)