For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
And I do not know which I shall choose.
I am caught between the two.
I long to depart this life and be with Christ,
for that is far better.
Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
Toward the end of her earthly life, Saint Terese of Lisieux said, "I will spend my Heaven doing good on Earth." That is how she resolved Saint Paul's conundrum: What do we make of death?
The Apostle, writing to his Philippian congregation from prison, did not know what to expect or hope for. Would he be released; tortured and released: or tortured and executed? Most people would prefer release from jail as soon as possible. And yet he apparently made good use of his time as he wrote letters, prayed, and spoke to wardens, guards, and prisoners about Jesus Christ. They must have missed this model prisoner when he left!
Knowing he must die as everyone does, he also looked forward in hope to sharing in the Resurrection of his Lord and Savior. After all he'd been through, suffered, and survived, there was no room in his heart for doubt. It could not enter his mind. Rather he thought of Jesus and the reward of being eternally with Him. What could be more desirable than that?
But perhaps his Lord wanted him to remain on earth a while longer. Perhaps he had work to do outside of the Roman jail. "For which should I hope?" Saint Therese found her meaning, purpose, and salvation in serving the Lord with an eternity of doing good on earth. (She would worship in the Church of "Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility." As Garrison Keiler dubbed the Catholic parish in Lake Woebegon.)
The Boom Generation and their children have often wondered about their identity, and believed it might be both pleasant and unchallenging. Identity could involve service of someone beyond myself; but with ample resources and time for leisure, which could be either useful self-improvement or mindless entertainment.
Like Joshua who declared, "As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!" I found my own identity as a Franciscan in following the Lord and serving the Church. Sixty years after donning the habit, I have no regrets. And the Best is Yet to Come!
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.