Unless a Grain of Wheat …
Jesus has gone before us. In the words of John 13:1, he has made the crossing from this world toward the Father and summons us to come after him. We will do this definitively when, at the hour of our death, we will have to summon up whatever resources we have in order to cast ourselves into the arms of God.
We need to remember, however, that the quality of this supremely personal act is not manufactured at the last moment. It is the fruit of countless small choices made from infancy onward which have given shape to our will. To the extent that our decisions have centered on feeding self we will find it very hard to change course in that awesome hour.
On the other hand, if life and providence have taught us to reach beyond self to other persons and to God, then the grace of God will empower us to follow Christ and so enter into glory.
The ultimate truth of human life is that all our searching leads to God. In Saint Augustine’s timeless words, “You have made us for yourself [O God) and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
This is something we know about every human being. He or she is made for God; there will always be an incompleteness until a person arrives at God.
—Michael Casey
Toward God
This life is a long and winding path. For the believer in Christ, however, there is grace at every turn and new mercies to greet us each morning on the journey. These are the means our God uses us to ready us for the next life; eternal life, with Him, together, forever. Our life here teaches us to trust Him when our senses would betray us; teaches us to love God more and love our neighbors better; teaches us the nature of our relationship to our Heavenly Father as His beloved children. Then, the transition to the next life when it comes can be welcome, a homecoming, a celebration rather than a memorial, and indeed a resurrection instead of a tomb. Embrace today as a day of eternal preparation! —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics