Meditations

Be ready. You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Luke 12.40 These words of Jesus were said to every person without exception. They are accomplished in every person of good will, even though we may have made preparation for death. We make plans that presuppose we will live a long life, whereas life is going to end. The time people do not think will be their last often actually is. Perhaps death will come at this time in our lives. If people who are nearing the end of an incurable illness still hold on to hope for healing, how much more hope do we hold on to when we are in the fullness of health? But where does this stubborn hope in life come from? It comes from the fact that we love life with a passion. And where does our strong desire to keep death away come from? It comes from the fact that we do not love the kingdom of God or the splendor and majesty of the life to come. O men who are slow of heart, who cannot rise above this earth where we are so forlorn! The true way to hold ourselves at the ready for our last moment is to care little for all other moments, and always to live in expectation of our life's end.