Preparation

   “But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded of you.” (Luke 12: 20)

   Common sense tells us that proper preparation is vital to most any endeavor.  Whether it be a vacation trip, a college major, retirement, or even a simple shopping trip the better prepared we are the more likely we are to be successful.  Most people readily prepare for life events yet so many fail to properly prepare for the most important of all life events, passing from this world to the next.

   The length of our life isn’t up to us.  We have no way of knowing if we will see tomorrow or even tonight.  Before we know it, we may have missed the opportunity to prepare as we should.  There is no coming back to correct our lack of planning.

   Without being morbid, frequent remembrance that we are destined to die is a good thing.  It shouldn’t haunt us every minute of our life, but it should encourage us to do those things necessary to ensure joy and happiness in the next life.

   Several of the Saints suggest frequent meditation on the end times to inspire our preparation for what is an unavoidable event.  Through prayer, reading and knowledge of Holy Scripture and self-evaluation we can better accept the inevitable without fear.

   We should prepare for all things in life.  But most of all we need to prepare for its end.

Father, our days are numbered.

Only You know the time and day.

Give me the grace to accept Your will.

Give me the courage to prepare.

Amen