Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” What do you understand these words to mean?
Many see these words as an indication of what may come in eternal life. In actuality, they have more to do with our lives here and now. We are called to die to ourselves and offer our lives as gifts given generously to others. It is not about us.
We are asked to serve God and not continue in our service of sin. Life is about learning to do what we really do not want to do because it brings us deeper into the mystery of God, ourselves, and others.
Learning how to accept and live with the “small deaths” and sacrifices we encounter teaches us how to live with and approach our final death. We can do so with a heart that has been touched by and is open to mercy or one that is self focused and closed.