We are told in the book of Hebrews that, among many other things, Jesus became a human being in order to set free all those who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:15) If there is one thing we often run from (perhaps all our lives) it is the impending truth of our own mortality. Yet, we are told in the book of Ecclesiastes it is better to go to a house of mourning rather than a house of feasting. (Ecclesiastes 7:2) Why? So we will number our days, remember God, and admit to ourselves that we are on this earth only for a little while. Even if a little while means 80+ years old.

This is where Joseph Rafael Tropea (Tro-p