The fleeting nature of this life

“Abba Anthony heard of a very young monk who had performed a miracle on the road. Seeing the old men walking with difficulty along the road, he ordered the wild asses to come and carry them until they reached Abba Anthony. Those whom they had carried told Abba Anthony about it. He said to them, ‘This monk seems to me to be a ship loaded with goods but I do not know if he will reach harbor.' After a while, Anthony suddenly began to weep, to tear his hair and lament. His disciples said to him, ‘Why are you weeping, Father?' and the old man replied, ‘A great pillar of the Church has just fallen (he meant the young monk) but go to him and see what has happened.' So the disciples went and found the monk sitting on a mat and weeping for the sin he had committed. Seeing the disciples of the old man he said, ‘Tell the old man to pray that God will give me just ten days and I hope I will have made satisfaction.' But in the space of five days he died.” -The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Abba Anthony the Great, paragraph 14)

Oh the fleeting nature of this life!

We never know which day will be our last.

Only the strength of Christ can lift us out of our sinful misery.

Even if we perform great miracles, we can fall deeply into sin if we lack humility.

“ …a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalms 51:17)

We should all yearn for faith strong enough that it causes us to weep when we have sinned!

We weep when we have hurt and offended a loved one on this earth, but how much more should we weep when we offend Christ?

Saint Abba Anthony the Great, pray for us!