Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
17th November 2013

Dear Friends,

The month of November calls us to stop and reflect a little on the death of those who have gone before us. However it should cause us to pause and keep before us the reality that we shall also part this world. Death is for us nothing but a mirror that will reflect for us the truth of our lives as we have lived it. It will give us a certain clear knowledge of our life as one complete whole. In this sense, we may say that, in death we shall see ourselves as we have never seen ourselves before because by it, all the superficialities of existence will be removed.

When we die all distractions, relations, emotions and possessions are removed. Without these distractions death will allow us to perceive our conscience as we had never been able to do during life. This is why we can say that death allows knowledge. Self-knowledge then, is fundamentally important for each of us, without it we can make few meaningful decisions in life and almost none when it comes to the spiritual life. We live our lives for the most part in blindness.

When we die and all distractions are removed we will be able to reflect with crystal clarity for the first time in our existence, our life and all that it has been. For many people this moment will be one of horror and despair, they will see themselves in this profound light as having been superficial. Sin is the effect of disordered choices made without reference to a higher good. When one continually makes disordered choices he becomes radically selfish, and this is the definition of hell: a place where each seeks his own, excuses himself, loves none and hates all. A sinful life is a dress rehearsal, to a greater or lesser degree, of hell. The more profoundly selfish a life is the more clearly it is seen that its owner is destined for hell. He has practiced and played his part perfectly, but he will only know his radial selfishness in the mirror of death, at which point it will be too late, much to his horror and despair.

Sufferings, illness, the death of family and friends are all small relative to our own personal death, and yet these all have in their own way the ability to open us up out to our own selfishness. They allow us to see more clearly when we experience them correctly. This is the fundamental importance in teaching children the spirit of sacrifice. Most people lose all benefit, even natural, of the hardships of life because they do not even know the first use which could be made of them. And when selfishness is commonly taught, as it is today, this vital lesson is lost for so many. They are unable to understand Our Lord's teaching: He that takes not up his cross, and follows me, is not worthy of me. (Mt 10; 38)

Suffering has the capability of disturbing our comfortable world. Suffering makes it possible for us to see things differently. Unfortunately, to know ourselves, the cross is only necessary. Put to the test, we are seen as we truly are.

From a sudden and unprovided death, spare us O Lord !