Farewell
Farewell To An Alumna
Members of the SUAF@SD experienced the commingling of sadness and joy when Alumna Pamela Catague left us to assume her place on the right side of our Savior.
The complex emotions of the day inspired past SUAF President Rev. Isaias Paniamogan to reassure all of the significance of the moment.
Thus he shares his thoughts on the Theological Understanding of Death:
I'm writing an article concerning a theological understanding of death. Its focus is the death of a friend and alumna of Silliman University , Pamela Catatgue.Laarni Catague Gularek, Pamela's younger sister wrote an excellent description of her commendable attributes as an intelligent person, gifted in music, generous and caring individual. So I don't have to dwell on these many of special gifts that she had shared with her family, relatives and friends. Our SUAF president, Miriam Tan Cole also mentioned in her general letter to the members and friends(SUAF@SD about Pamela Catague's good and meaningful gifts she had given to any relationships whether in the classroom, church activities and in the place of work as a nurse.
I believe that one doesn't need to be a scholar in order to speak like a theologian. Therefore I'm writing as a pastor-theologian, about my personal conviction or understanding of death as we focus on Pamela Catague's earthly life and beyond.
To be honest with ourselves, it is important for us to see and accept the fact of death. It is absolutely true that sooner or later, each of us will die. As the writer of Psalms chapter 90 puts it, The years of our life are threescore and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore, yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone and we fly away, v. 10. The great Reformer of the sixteenth century Germany , Martin Luther once said, "we should have death always before our eyes. It is factual therefore that no one can live forever on earth - even the Bible assures us that we will all die at one point or another. Medical science keeps exploring modern art of surgery and medicine to solve every conceivable illness, and yet we still die. The writer of the book of Hebrews assures us in chapter 9:27,"And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment." However, God in Christ came to earth to save us not of our own good works but what God has done through Christ. So the writer of Hebrews continues when he said, "so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him,v.28).
People of good faith still ask an age-old question: Is there life after death? Will we see our loved ones again? As a pastor my answer is of faith rather than knowledge. Secondly, I have to depend on what Jesus had promised, "because I live you will also live." Jesus is our only source of salvation. He is our only provider of sufficient grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8. Jesus assured the sorrowing Martha that he is the resurrection and the life, John 11:25, he who believe in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. What an assurance Jesus promises us, do we believe his promise?
By his death Jesus conquered death, and by his resurrection he opened to us the gate to eternal life. And because of Christ's resurrection we join Pamela Catague in sharing St. Paul firm belief that if in this life we are "in Christ," so after death we will be with God. Because Pamela Catague also believed in Christ -- she is now home with Christ in his Kingdom without end. This assurance is based on what God has done in his Son Jesus the Christ the hope of glory. Blessed be the name of the Lord!