The Lord says to all of us: "Put your house in order, for you are about to die" (Is 38:1). Whether your death is tomorrow or twenty years from now, it's not that far away, and you have no idea when you will die or when Jesus will return and the world end. Therefore, you must have your house in order now. By God's grace, you must always be prepared to meet God. If you're not ready to die now, there is no reason to believe that you will be ready later.
Thomas á Kempis, in The Imitation of Christ, taught: "Every action of yours, every thought, should be those of one who expects to die before the day is out. Death would have no great terrors for you if you had a quiet conscience...Then why not keep clear of sin instead of running away from death? If you aren't fit to face death today, it's very unlikely you will be tomorrow..." (quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1014).
Therefore, "delay not to forsake sins, neglect it not till you are in distress" (Sir 18:21). "Delay not your conversion to the Lord, put it not off from day to day; for suddenly His wrath flames forth" (Sir 5:8-9). "Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2) "Prepare to meet your God" (Am 4:12).
| PRAYER: | "Lord, save us! We are lost!" (Mt 8:25) |
| PROMISE: | " 'What sort of Man is this,' they said, 'that even the winds and the sea obey Him?' " –Mt 8:27 |
| PRAISE: | Jesus healed Elizabeth of breast cancer. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College