As we are coming to the end of the Church’s year the Gospel speaks of a fearsome period, a time of distress with plagues and wars The international world situation has deteriorated over recent years. There seems to be more conflict and a belief we need to spend more on defence. While this does not portend the end of the world and we should always work for more peace and harmony in the world, at the same time we might profit from a certain increase in feelings of insecurity, seeing it as a prompt to throw ourselves at the mercy of Christ. Earthly security is illusory. Our true security can only be in Christ.
Although we must not commit the sin of presumption – believing that we are right with God without an examination of conscience and true repentance for our sins. On the other hand, as long, we stay within the fold the of Church, putting God first, including the keeping of the Sunday obligation and loving our neighbours as ourselves, seeking forgiveness of our sins and, particularly, confessing any mortal sin which may be on our conscience, we have already weathered the storm which would otherwise destroy us. We have already reached a point where we should be able to face the end with confidence because we have enjoyed the fruits of the events of the Easter Triduum.
We take each day one a time living in the presence of God. It is so easy to go astray if we forget this. If we make a conscious effort to dedicate each day to God, we open the way to experiencing each day as valuable. We will be in a constant state of readiness. This means being on the lookout for our neighbours and praying during – as well as at the beginning and end – of the day. In this way we will more easily keep in mind God’s presence.
Yours in Christ,
Dom Timothy Gorham OSB
