“Christ, the Good Shepherd” (detail) by Murillo
“He promised us eternal salvation and an unending life of blessedness with the angels, and an imperishable inheritance, the joy of seeing his face, a dwelling-place with him in heaven, and the fear of death removed from us through the resurrection. This is, if you like, his ultimate promise. We look forward to it, and when we reach it, we will want nothing more.” (From St. Augustine’s commentary of Psalm 109)
I cannot tell you how many times a day I am distracted from what I am doing and need to refocus. “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, / Gang aft agley…” [1]
Distractions come in all forms, some frivolous and some requiring urgent attention. The question we might pose is how to control these distractions and prevent them where they are not important. But, we should also ask whether we experience distractions that direct away us from our ultimate purpose. For it is the very dignity of the human person that God has made us for Himself and promised us so much… especially the life of union with Him for all eternity in heaven. St. Augustine relates this ultimate promise of God to us very beautifully in his commentary of Psalm 109.
While we enjoy the beauty and wonders of this life and the fellowship of the people God has placed us among, do we also keep our sights fixed on God and heaven or do we tend to forget the reason for our being?
Advent is a great time to remember each day this wonderful promise from God.
Come, Lord Jesus.
[1] Robert Burns, To a Mouse
