The Monthly Note
November 2005
As in Noah’s days
by Fr. Émery Désilets, OP
Just like in Noah’s days, or in the days of the destruction of Jerusalem, we sometimes live our lives blindly (Luke 17, 26-37).
• We are often impervious to the signs of the time. We do not know how to recognize God’s presence in our world, the signs of Christ’s imminent return. We live as if this world is eternal, as if our life should never end. To others, death; to us, life. One day, an 84 year old man, that was always fortunate enough to be in perfect health, told me: « I would see others die but I never thought that, one day, I could also die». How could we not quote the following statement from a preacher, during a great oration: « My brothers, we all die one day. Perhaps, even myself! »
• Our biggest mistake is to live our life as if there is only the present. We would feed off from this life like the child in his mother’s womb who refuses to be born because he feels safe. Imagine that we could talk to a child in his mother’s womb and that he could answer. We could tell him, and with reason, when you will be born, when you come in this world, you will discover a wonderful world. A bright sun, sparkling stars, people who only want to greet and love you. The child would probably answer this: « No thank you, I prefer to remain here. I am comfortable here, it is warm ». We often resemble this child. We do not hear the call to a greater life, infinitely more wonderful than the present life, a life of communion and happiness without end.
At the end of this reflection, I invite you to make ours the following prayer:
« Lord Jesus, keep us from losing ourselves in trivial concerns and forgetting what is essential in our life. Arouse in us the desire of your coming, that we may use all things like never before, to be ready for the Day when you will reveal yourself to us, you Son of Man and our Lord forever. Amen ».
Émery Désilets, o.p., Director.
« They did not know until the flood came…». (Matthew 24, 39)
