“Happy and wise is he who endeavours to be during his life as he wishes to be found at his death.” (Thomas à Kempis)
Who would not want to be prepared at the hour of his death? Who would not want to be able to tell the Lord that he has strived to do His will, and to pass into the kingdom of His peace, trusting in God’s mercy? Surely every person of faith!
Thomas à Kempis draws our attention here to a very important practice in preparation for the encounter with death. We must think about it and consciously integrate it into our lives, as the hour toward which our lives are inexorably moving. Sacred Scripture reminds us: “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:12)
Consciously reflecting on death will awaken us to what is essential in life. “Make the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:16), as the Apostle Paul says.
Yet we must not only be vigilant over our lives so that they do not slip away from us, as important as this is and as much as it requires our constant, sincere repentance. Even greater wisdom, however, comes to us when we reflect on what we can take with us through God’s grace at the hour of death, when we have sought to live for the joy of our Lord and thus look forward to the hour of our encounter with our Father.
Then we will be carried on the wings of piety, and all the circumstances that come our way will be used by God to prepare us for the hour of our encounter with our Heavenly Father.
May He find us as faithful workers in His vineyard. God Himself is our reward: eternal communion with Him in the glory of heaven.