As we hit the last day of July for 2018, it reminds me once again of the "shortness of time and length of eternity." Another month of life has come and gone. If the Lord were to call any of us home today, are we prepared? How seriously do we approach our relationship with the Lord?
I see many well-wishes on social media to people celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, etc. As these milestones come and go each year, are we grasping the reality that our time on earth is growing shorter? Are we living life with the pursuit of holiness?
Yesterday was the anniversary of my mother-in-law's death. She died before becoming my mother-in-law, but I had a brief time to get to know her a little. The point that really struck me yesterday as I thought about her is that she has been gone from this earth for more than three decades. My wife and her siblings have lived without their mom now for thirty-one years. What does that mean for us? It means none of us are spring chickens any more either!
The saints of old constantly encouraged people to reflect upon the four last things--death, judgment, heaven, and hell. That doesn't come up too much in modern day discussions. However, it may benefit all of us if it was talked about a little more. We can get so engrossed in the day-to-day tasks of our daily lives that we lose focus on the fact that our home is in heaven. We need to be reminded once in a while of the priorities of life. The time of death is not the time to prepare. That is the time to find ourselves already prepared.
Are we receiving the sacraments frequently?
Are we receiving them in a worthy manner?
Do we pray daily?
Do we pray fervently and with purity of intention?
I invite you to reflect upon two Scripture passages today and do an honest examination of conscience afterward.
Matthew 5:48
Luke 6:36
God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in His sight. We are called to be saints. Is that the road we are on?
I see many well-wishes on social media to people celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, etc. As these milestones come and go each year, are we grasping the reality that our time on earth is growing shorter? Are we living life with the pursuit of holiness?
Yesterday was the anniversary of my mother-in-law's death. She died before becoming my mother-in-law, but I had a brief time to get to know her a little. The point that really struck me yesterday as I thought about her is that she has been gone from this earth for more than three decades. My wife and her siblings have lived without their mom now for thirty-one years. What does that mean for us? It means none of us are spring chickens any more either!
The saints of old constantly encouraged people to reflect upon the four last things--death, judgment, heaven, and hell. That doesn't come up too much in modern day discussions. However, it may benefit all of us if it was talked about a little more. We can get so engrossed in the day-to-day tasks of our daily lives that we lose focus on the fact that our home is in heaven. We need to be reminded once in a while of the priorities of life. The time of death is not the time to prepare. That is the time to find ourselves already prepared.
Are we receiving the sacraments frequently?
Are we receiving them in a worthy manner?
Do we pray daily?
Do we pray fervently and with purity of intention?
I invite you to reflect upon two Scripture passages today and do an honest examination of conscience afterward.
Matthew 5:48
Luke 6:36
God chose us in Christ before the world began to be holy and blameless in His sight. We are called to be saints. Is that the road we are on?
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