The Bucket List 

   A few years ago bucket lists were all the rage; things people wanted to do before they died.  Especially those who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness tried to do many things they had always wanted to do before their final days.

   Most of these lists consisted of fun and exciting things.  Things like sky-diving, climbing a mountain, perhaps learning to scuba dive.  While there is nothing wrong with any of these goals, they are of no use once this life is over.  We are not judged on how many items on our bucket list we completed, but how we lived our life as a whole.

   So maybe there should be a few things added to the bucket list that will help us as we pass from this world to the next: 

-      Reconnect with that parent, sibling or friend we’ve been holding a grudge against.  If we don’t love our neighbors we can’t love God as we should.  They may reject us, but at least we can try.

-      Look into our closets and donate anything we’ve not worn is six months to charity, clothing those who need to be clothed.

-      Volunteer in a soup kitchen, feeding those who are hungry.

-      go to confession and repent of our sins.  We cannot enter the kingdom of God with sins on our soul.

-      Never miss Sunday Mass.  Listen and take part at Mass rather than thinking about what all else the day may bring.  Try to add some daily Masses as well.

-      Most of all, pray, pray, and then pray some more.  Tell God of your fears and anxieties; He will give you comfort.  Tell Him you love Him and ask to be able to love Him even more.  Place your life and your death in His hands for you do not know when death will come. 

   Jump out a plane if you want or go climb that mountain.  But remember these will not get you into God’s kingdom.  Look to those things that will.