ON KEEPING THE END IN SIGHT
I die every day!
~1 Corinthians 15:31
If we were to keep the imminence of our death in mind, we would never be overcome by sin: lust, which is fleeting, would not reign over us; we would never harbor anger against another human being; we would not love the possessions which pass away; and we would forgive every person who offended us. Therefore, beloved, let’s be zealous in carrying out the work we have committed ourselves to, and let’s travel to the end on the road which we have begun.
~St. Athanasius
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CONSIDER
St. Paul wrapped up his first letter to the Corinthians by discussing Christ’s power over death and how that granted them resurrection from eternal death. He squeezed a little caveat in there for us to do in response to God’s great benevolence toward us in Christ’s resurrection: we are to die daily. He goes on to say, “Come to your right mind and sin no more” (1 Corinthians 15:34). The rest of the New Testament defines how a “right mind” thinks. St. John puts it this way:
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life is not from the Father but from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.
~1 John 2:16-17
Just think how daily life would be different if we compared everything we did each day to the will of God! We’d throw away our to-do list filled with the empty nothings of our lusts (enticements of the world) and forget about ourselves! That would be a breath of fresh air, wouldn’t it? To consider our lives as sacrifices to the Lord requires coming to our right mind, the God-given one we aren’t accustomed to using. Let’s pray for our priests and diocese that we strive to do the will of God by dying to our will.
PRAY
Lord and Savior of my life, like your friend, Lazarus, you desire to set me free from “death cloths” to know and enjoy the abundance of the good life you give me here and now and in eternity. Please forgive me for displacing my love in this world’s enticements and the pretentious attitude of thinking I deserve them. Holy Spirit, help me always to have an open spirit toward others, not holding on to grievances but praying for their well-being. I choose you as my traveling companion; reach into my heart and mind and toss away anything hindering me from entering eternal life with the LORD! ~Amen
~I am a freelance writer. This post first appeared in a periodical.
The Maiden Warrior 