From Here to Eternity *
The season of Lent commemorates the forty days and forty nights our Lord spent in the desert praying, fasting, and battling with Satan who tempted Him before His public ministry, culminating in His Passion, Death and Resurrection. These He underwent for all for us -- that He might save us from sin and bring us to the glory of heaven to last for all eternity.
Speaking of eternity, the great saint, Bernard of Clairvaux, is known for his often-quoted question in Latin: "Quid hoc ad aeternitatem?" which is translated: "What is this in relation to eternity?" How do our actions affect our eternity, which starts after our death? This question guided him in his outlook towards life, in dealing with events of life, and in making choices between good and evil.
Our decisions, our actions in this life have a bearing on what we will be when we are no longer here on this planet called earth.
Jesus Himself tells us that while we are still here: ". . . store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal." Mt. 6:20
Holy Scripture is not remiss in reminding us of the paramount importance of our salvation:
"For we have not here a lasting city, but we seek one that is to come. Heb13:14
"And the world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the will of God abides for eternity."
1 John 2:17
We have only one life to live. After the joys, comforts, pleasures, sorrows, inconveniences, sickness and pain we encounter here, then will come eternity. Where are we going to spend it?
It depends on how we lived this life. The question to ask ourselves each time we make a choice:
"Quid hoc ad aeternitatem? #
"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?…" (Mark 8:36)
* A Repost from March 16, 2017
