Urgent Matter

If you had one day left to live, what would you do?

I think we've all been asked this question at one time or another. I first think of the delicious meal I would eat, definitely Italian, and definitely followed by a dessert with too much chocolate. I would spend time with family and friends and probably reminisce over the past 42 years of my life. In other words, I would spend a lot of time on me.

Every now and then we all stumble across a meme that reminds us of what Jesus did on His last day, He washed feet. But I’d argue He didn’t just wash feet, He chose to wash the feet of 12 men, one of whom was Judas. Judas.

In the book, Waiting for Christ by St Newman he poses a similar question.

“What day will be our last? Do we live like we are truly watching for Christ's coming? We think we're safe because we have our Bible's tucked under our arms and believe God is the Almighty, but we don't watch for Christ's coming with urgent anticipation. If we really believed one of these days will be our last, that we would stand before Him in just a few hours, we would do everything much differently. St. Newman suggests that it is the "watching that is the suitable test for a Christian." (p 62)

What is it to watch for Christ then? St Newman explains it is "to be detached from what is present and to live in what is unseen; to live in the thought of Christ as He came once, and as He will come again; to desire His second coming, from our affectionate and grateful remembrance of His first." (p 61)

We remember Him by imitating Him with urgency.

Not too long ago, I read a beautiful article about a young couple. At their wedding, rather than the new husband slip off the new bride's garter, he carried out a bowl and a towel, took off her shoe, and washed her foot. At that moment, on both knees, humbled before her, he was telling her that he would love her, as Christ loves His church. Before his guests, at the greatest party of his life, he took time to get on his knees and serve with great humility. This is imitating Christ with urgency.

To live in what is unseen, to remember Christ, and to look towards His second coming must be done on our knees in humility and reverence. Whose feet can we wash? Whose wounds can we salve? Whose prayers can we lift up? Who offense can we forgive? To whom can we turn the other cheek, give our extra coat, feed, clothe, and visit? In every moment, our faith and our love must be lived out with an urgent desire to imitate Christ. 

St. Newman ends today's post with these words, "Life is short. Death is certain. The world to come is everlasting." (p 63)

We have no time to waste.

Below is this weeks PGS - a free tool to share with your children, students, and parish families about God’s greatest commandment—to love. In it, we explore a pretty awesome mother son duo, St John Bosco and Venerable Margherita Bosco who showed how powerful it is to love really well.

See you next week!