Jan

2

Living Every Day As If It’s Your Last

January 2, 2008 |

Yesterday’s enthusiasm for the new year has been doused by today’s news.

The news came from our parish family - a good family and Godly man, who devoutly followed Christ, died this morning of a heart attack at the age of 59.   His wife and three children must now rely on their hope in Christ, their comfort from Mary, and their faith in God’s will. 

I just got to know him through Answer the Call - our bimonthly, male spiritual get-together, of which he was the ringleader.  I just joined a few months ago and he always said good-bye to me by saying “make sure you come back.”

He was a good man, who was good at what he did and was serving as the face of Christ every day of his life.

I last saw him as I was walking out of Mass yesterday.  The Mass was extraordinary and one of the most spiritually moving I have ever experienced.  I can’t help but wonder if the power of the Mass was Mary’s and her son’s way of providing comfort to him and his family as Christ called him to his heavenly award.

And then there is the realization that I just saw him yesterday.  I can still feel his handshake and the half-hug we shared, still hear the ”Happy New Year” ringing in my ears.   And now he is gone. 

We are not given any guarantees in this life.  We need to live every day as if it’s our last.  We need to live every day as if we are to be called into Christ’s office by day’s end and required to defend our performance - defend our life.

If we are allowed to have regrets when we are before Christ, I am sure this Man of Christ who we now mourn will regret not being there for his children, or not being able to retire to spend more time with his wife, or leaving his friends without a good-bye. 

And that’s the thing - when we all go to our eternal judgment, we will have regrets.  But, we need to make sure those regrets are one’s that can be forgiven and with which we can face Christ.  I knew this man - this Man of Christ - for a very short period of time - yet I mourn the loss of a friend.  That’s the type of man he was.  That’s the type of man we should all aspire to be.

In times like these, we just need to pray and pray and pray - and remember - and reflect. 

May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen. 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now until the hour of our death.  Amen. 

O Mary, comfort those who mourn, and pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, so we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  Amen.

And let us resolve this year to live every day as if it’s all we got left.  No regrets.  No excuses.


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