Nov 13 Fri
Am I aware that my life on earth is transitory?
Men see nothing so commonly as death, and they forget it so easily. All of us have to die: this is one of life's great truths. Sooner or later a day will come when we render an account to our Father God. Our time on earth is a period of trial that God grants us.
“Here we have no lasting city. And lest we forget it, this truth appears crudely, at times, at the hour of death: lack of understanding, persecution or being despised... And always loneliness, for even though we may be surrounded by affection, every person dies alone."
“Now is the time to untie all the bonds that bind us. Let us prepare ourselves at all times for that step which will bring us into the eternal presence of the Most Holy Trinity."
Life is short, time is limited, and time is our treasure, the "money" with which to buy eternity. Our days will come to an end, and we'll be judged by our deeds. Nothing on earth has permanent value. All that this earth can offer us is continually passing away: hardly has pleasure begun than it is already ended. God will come for us only once. He should find us well prepared to enter happiness without end. “Always, for ever! Words brought to our lips by the human desire to prolong - to make eternal - what is pleasant."
“Lying words, on earth, where everything must end."
We are wayfarers. Therefore, while treading firmly on the ground, we should always keep our gaze set firmly on the goal of our journey, on our Father God.
“Death comes, and cannot be avoided. What empty vanity it is, then, to center our existence on this life. See how much many men and women suffer. Some suffer because life is coming to an end and it pains them to leave it; others because it goes on and they are sick of it. In neither case is there any room for the mistaken view that makes our passage through this world an end in itself."
One must leave that way of thinking behind and anchor oneself to another, an eternal one. A total change is required: to empty oneself of self-centered motives, which pass away, and to be renewed in Christ, who is eternal.
The lesson is clear: we have to be detached from material possessions, ready to render an account to God whenever he calls us. “Whoever considers his own state at death ... longs for nothing transitory, nor allows himself to be led by the present life's desires. Rather he considers himself almost dead, for he knows one day he must die."
Nothing we enjoy here will accompany us to the grave. Don't set your heart on loves here below. Such loves are selfish... Elsewhere are the loves that endure. Since we will enter God's presence empty-handed, why do we latch on to things? They are a dead weight, an obstacle on our journey. In the end, we'll have to abandon them anyway. Before God, only our good deeds have any value.
Therefore, we want to be completely detached from everything on earth.