March 21

On that same day the LORD said to Moses, “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own possession. And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. — Deut 32:48-50 BSB

One day, each of us will hear the summons: “Leave your farm, your work, your desk, your books, your pleasures, and go into the silence of your own room—and die.” We may not hear the voice when we lay down our work for the night, nor realize that we are going away to die, but it will not change the reality. Our last hour will come, and the voice no one can resist will call us away from this earth.

Moses was to die alone. No one went with him. In truth, each of us must die alone. Friends may gather around, hold our hand, pray with us, or weep over us, but when the moment comes, we walk that final journey alone. No one can accompany us beyond the foot of the mountain. It is like setting sail alone while friends wave goodbye from the shore. We must die alone.

“So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there . . . just as the Lord had said.” Deuteronomy 34:5