#O Death Where Is Thy Sting?

[meteorologistaustenlonek]

"I did not make it; no, it is making me."

[dimsilver]

and I looked, and behold there was a pale horse, and he who sat on him was just some guy

[wiirocku]

1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) - O Death, where is thy sting? O Grave, where is thy victory?

[lightdancer1]

Posted a rewritten and expanded O Grave Where Is Thy Sting on AO3:

[queerprayers]

update <3

I've been procrastinating this (as if that could make it all less real), but so many people have sent prayers and well wishes that I wouldn't feel right not letting you know how grateful I am for your words and also letting you know this: My beloved grandfather died last week.

I honor the faithful service he gave to countless churches and communities, the children he helped raise, the grandchildren he sang to, the children he baptized, the couples (including my parents) he married, the people he buried, the music and faith that never left him even when so much of him did.

I will pass on the last thing he ever said to me, in July, after a busy and joyful weekend celebrating his fiftieth wedding anniversary, as he got in bed for his nap, taking seconds in between words to think: "It's not all hard. Not all the time." This is so hard. But it's also part of loving someone: promising to mourn them when the time comes. Promising to keep going. Love is hard, but it's not all hard. Not all the time.

His funeral will be Catholic, but he used to be a Lutheran, and he presided over many funerals from the worship book I still use, so here are some words I've been saying from there:

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you today our brother. We thank you for giving him to us to know and to love as a companion in our pilgrimage on earth. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us your aid, so we may see in death the gate to eternal life, that we may continue our course on earth in confidence until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

The generations rise and pass away before you. You are the strength of those who labor; you are the rest of the blessed dead. We rejoice in the company of your saints. We remember all who have lived in faith, all who have peacefully died, and especially those most dear to us who rest in you. Give us in time our portion with those who have trusted in you and have striven to do your holy will. To your name, with the Church on earth and the Church in heaven, we ascribe all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, thy victory? The strife is o'er, the battle done. Love will come again like wheat arising green. The Lord bless and keep him. The Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious to him. The Lord look upon him with favor and grant him peace.

I'm not a Catholic, and was never really taught to pray for souls, but I think I get it a bit now. He was, though, and if that's something you do, I'm sure he would have welcomed that. (And if you know any good saints to throw in the mix, go for it.) My grandmother could also use your prayers.

Thank you for reading this, and holding for a moment the love I have for him. It's heavy right now, and easier to carry with others' prayers beside me. I am praying beside you as well, especially with the many people who have sent me asks that have gone unanswered for ages now. And God holds all of us, more than we could ever imagine. I don't claim to understand death, but I am in the palm of the universe's hand, and my granddad is too, reunited with all that left him in his sickness, and united with a God who knows death intimately. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, love to love.

<3 Johanna

[on1occasionfork]

Regarding a “good” ending for Good Omens and whether our Ineffables becoming human would qualify.

First, let me say that I trust Neil that it will be a satisfying ending whatever it looks like because I trust in his love for these characters and his love for his friend Terry and the story they were telling together.

That said, here’s why I think the “they become human” idea is entirely plausible and perhaps the ending that would most reflect what is (from my perspective) the Big Idea of the book and series:

There’s a lot of emphasis on how much Crowley and Aziraphale have come to reflect or resemble and value humanity. It’s pointed out that they’ve “gone native.” Aziraphale reassures Adam that being just a kid is “not a bad thing to be.” They celebrate that Adam is neither Heaven nor Hell Incarnate but rather “Human Incarnate.”

So what happens if they do become human. Is that a happy ending?

I know one of the issues many have with Aziraphale and Crowley becoming human is the idea of a finite lifespan.

In the darkest interpretation of what it would mean for Aziraphale & Crowley to be human, I think “the story starts, as it will end, with a garden,” could lead us to a different type of garden — a garden cemetery, where we would see two gravestones side by side.

However, I think that ending is unlikely.

I think it’s more likely that we get an interpretation that plays on 1 Corinthians 15:26, which says “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death.” I lean this way particularly because Adam had a mini-showdown with Death in S1, but not a final one. I think that we’ll likely see a version of Jesus in S3, and given the respect Crowley seems to have for him, he’s probably a decent guy. I think there will likely be a team up between Jesus and Adam — Christ and Antichrist, son of Heaven and son of Hell, respectively — that will result in the the final showdown with Death and then the full reordering of how the universe works including death and the afterlife.

Does that mean no more death? I don’t know. Later in 1 Corinthians 15 comes the passage that asks “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” What does it mean if death has no sting and the grave no victory?

Perhaps it means no death and no grave and all, but the earth would get awfully crowded very quickly.

Perhaps it means an afterlife in Heaven, but even if you consider the doctrine of universalism (basically the idea that by the end, all humanity will be reconciled to God, and Hell, if it exists, is remedial and temporary) I don’t think that either Crowley or Aziraphale would want an eternity in Heaven.

But defeat doesn’t have to mean annihilation. So a defeated death, a death without sting, a grave without victory… that could mean death still exists — it’s just not the final word.

Perhaps — and this is what I could personally see as one satisfying “ending” for Aziraphale and Crowley — it means reincarnation.

A human lifespan, yes, but a world in which they get to experience human joys and sorrows for the first time all over again: the first time Aziraphale hears Shostakovich, the first time Crowley drives a Bentley, the first time they meet each other and get caught in a storm.

Like Hard Times and every other instance where we’ve seen them meet throughout history, I’d love to see them meeting each other in different circumstances.

I could be perfectly happy with that world: A world in which they always find each other by the end. And then get to find each other all over again and again and again.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

"Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. He destroyed Hell when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below." Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked. It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see. O death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory?"

[mysterious-secret-garden]

Joseph Haynes, after John Hamilton Mortimer - ‘A Monumental Design. “O Death where is thy sting— O Grave where is thy victory”, 1784.

[hurricane-eva]

Biblical References in Lord Peter Wimsey Novels: Have His Carcase

I would like to eventually have a post like this for each book, but since this is the one I most recently finished, we're starting with this one instead of at the beginning.

If I've missed any, do tell, because I would love a Complete and Accurate List. I don't think there are any major spoilers here, but just in case, I'll put 'em under a cut!

Chapter 4:

"Who told you about the body?"

"I nosed it from afar. Where the carcase is, there shall be eagles gathered together. May I join you over the bacon and eggs?"

Chapter 8:

He had covenanted with himself to interview Colonel Belfridge at eleven o'clock.

This one is more Biblical language than an actual quote, but I'm counting it because according to my rules it fits.

Chapter 9:

"...Alexis wasn't the sort to take a long country walk for the intoxicating pleasure of sitting on a rock.

"True, O Queen. Live for ever. ..."

Chapter 10:

"Wilvercombe is the more probable direction of the two, because anybody coming from Lesston Hoe would have seen her and put his crime off to a more convenient season, as Shakespeare says."

This one cracks me up because Inspector Umpelty has, earlier in the chapter, attributed a quote to the Bible which is not one.

Chapter 12:

But now, with the hope that they might be found to have entertained an angel of darkness unawares, they foresaw all manner of publicity.

Chapter 16a:

"Two boats stationed off the Grinders."

"Fishermen?"

"Fishers of men, I fancy," replied Wimsey, grimly.

Chapter 16b:

Harriet: Oh, death! where is thy sting?

Chapter 16c:

Harriet (reading): 'Last of all the woman died also' — probably from backache.

Chapter 16d:

Harriet: What is that in your hand?

Peter: A dead starfish.

This one, I admit, some might argue about, but it is EXACTLY the kind of thing I would do, pull some obscure quote and have a character use it, so I'm giving DLS this one.

Chapter 21:

"A contempt for money, Inspector, is the root—or at any rate, the very definite sign—of all evil."

An adaptation rather than a quote, but a very strong one.

Chapter 23:

Presently the inner door opened again and the young lady emerged, clothed and apparently very much in her right mind, for she smiled round...

Chapter 25:

"Which brings us to the point that either Weldon's party wrote the letter or the foreign party did the murder."

"True, O king."

Chapter 31:

"I said the Wilvercombe alibi would stand, and it has broken in pieces like a potter's vessel."

[warrioreowynofrohan]

Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!

Sons of men and angels say: Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high! Alleluia!

Sing ye heavens and earth reply: Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious king! Alleluia!

Where o death is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Dying once he all doth save! Alleluia!

Where’s thy victory o grave? Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done! Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won! Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise! Alleluia!

Christ hath opened Paradise! Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led! Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head! Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise! Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies! Alleluia!

[dimsilver]

I am eating well and there are daffodils on my table. basically: o death where is thy sting

[necatormundi]

unfashionably late but @bigshoeswamp tagged me for five songs i've had on my mind lately

i tag hmmmm. @shochet @multicarinata @tetrissyndromes @bladeunlock and whoever else wishes to do it. or don't i'm not your mother

[orthodoxshe]

abide with me, fast falls the eventide the darkness deepens; lord, with me abide when other helpers fail and comforts flee help of the helpless, o abide with me

swift to its close ebbs out life's little day earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away change and decay in all around i see o thou who changest not, abide with me

i need thy presence every passing hour what but thy grace can foil the tempter's power? who like thyself my guide and strength can be? through cloud and sunshine, o abide with me

i fear no foe with thee at hand to bless, ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory? i triumph still, if thou abide with me

hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes shine through the gloom and point me to the skies heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee in life, in death, o lord, abide with me

[wiirocku]

1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) - O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

[marblesarelost]

It will be two years on Thursday.

I have done so much I never thought I could do in the last two years. I got through the worst of it. It still shows up every once in a while, still kicks me in the teeth so hard that my entire body aches with missing you, still feels sometimes like my heart has been torn from my chest, but it's mostly okay. It's mostly okay.

I know what you've done from the other side. I don't know everything you've done, but I know you've done a lot. I know I wouldn't be here now if you hadn't moved things around, if you hadn't kicked someone's ass into making that move, if you hadn't smoothed things out for us. I know what you've done.

I know you're still around.

O Death where is thy sting?

Because I know. You haven't left me at all.

I just can't see you right now.

But you're there.

I know you're there.

[prolifeproliberty]

Wishing everyone a blessed Holy Saturday and Easter Vigil!

1 Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide' The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

3 Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, But as Thou dwelst with Thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free. Come, not to sojourn, but abide with me.

4 Come not in terrors as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings; Tears for all woes, a heart for ev'ry plea. Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

5 Thou on my head in every youth didst smile, And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee. On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

6 I need Thy presence every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the Tempter's power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me!

7 I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if Thou abide with me.

8 Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies. Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

-The Lutheran Hymnal, #552 Text by Henry Francis Lyte Tune