In his sermon “Surprised by Death,” priest James Van Tholen discusses his renewed understanding of the grace of God in the Christian faith as a result of the looming death of his cancer. As a priest, he has always been well versed in teaching the gospel and communicating the free gift of God’s grace to his congregation. However, being terminally ill with cancer forces Van Tholen to not simply preach the gospel and grace; he must thoroughly and unequivocally believe in them to comprehend the scope of God’s benevolence. The crux of this full understanding of the forgiveness of sins is a certain word in Romans 5 in the bible. The greek word eti, meaning “yet” or “still,” is used to demonstrate that, even though humans are still sinful, they are saved by God’s grace. Van Tholen emphasizes this word’s usage to elucidate how, in order to wholly comprehend the Christian faith, one must accept and embrace the idea of forgiveness in spite of sin.…show more content… When elaborating upon his newfound belief, he states, “[t]his truth has come home to me as I’ve been thinking about what it will mean to die” (Tholen 1072). Contemplating the significance of death is a cornerstone of philosophy, and by incorporating a field of widely regarded intelligence, Van Tholen enhances his credibility and reputation as a writer. His philosophical tone also allows him to better reach his Christian audience, and more specifically, his own congregation. As examining death from a religious and spiritual standpoint bears many similarities as philosophical interpretations, Van Tholen’s attitude toward understanding God’s grace is more aptly conveyed to his audience and his job, saving the spirits of those around him, his
