Thursday 12 August 2010

Vigilate itaque...


...quia nescitis diem, neque horam.

It is with a touch of sadness that I write this. The past few days I have heard of two deaths of young girls that resided in my area and have been concerned with certain reactions. The Good Lord is not unjust in permitting the deaths of His creations, and all things occur for His glory. I understand the distress that their parents, relatives and friends are undergoing at this moment, but for us, Catholic Christians, we have been given a warning. You know not the day nor the hour, said the Lord, when the Son of Man comes. Therefore keep watch and be prepared. These were sudden deaths, and I pray that they may find mercy, however the best preparation for death is a righteous life based upon faith. We all will suffer this rending of body and soul and this must not be feared. It is the passage to eternal life.
As Catholic Christians we have been gifted and graced with much, through no merit of our own, therefore much is expected of us in return. I urge you all to live every moment as though you were to be judged immediately. A false conclusion made is that life must be lived to the full, persevere in the hunt for pleasure, let no amusement or idly fancy escape you. But I say to you, where your treasure is, there your heart will be to. If you sow in the field of nature, you will receive a perishable harvest. If in the field of the Spirit, you will obtain a harvest of everlasting life. To focus and pursue the corruptible ends in disintegration.

Thomas a Kempis wrote:

'Very soon your life here will be at an end: look then to the state of your soul. Man is here today and tomorrow he is dead; and when he is out of sight, he is also quickly out of mind. Oh! the blindness and stupidity of man who thinks only of the present, and forgets to provide for the future. You ought to be as careful in every word and deed as if you were to die that very moment. If you had a good conscience you would not dread death very much. It is better to guard against sin than try to escape death. If you are not ready today, how will you be tomorrow? Tomorrow is an uncertain day; how can you tell whether you will have tomorrow?'

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