The Final Goal

“Call no man happy before his death, for by how he ends, a man is known.” (Sir 11:28)


Death.


It’s something that we all must face eventually.


It’s something that we all have in common.


And it’s something we all must accept.


Too often our focus can be only on this life. But what happens when we die? Where do we go?


By keeping our end in mind, where we are heading, we can focus on what is most important: eternal happiness with God. Fr. Richards has some good questions for reflection, and I will mention a few here.


What will I accomplish with my short time on earth?


Will I be a person who gave more than I took?


What do I want people to say about me once I’ve taken my last breath?


Death is out of our control. As men, we like to be able to determine the outcome. But nothing is stopping us from dying this very moment! If God we to so much as not think about us for one second, we would be dead. This is a humbling thought.


Herod the Great was a powerful king. He ruled from 37 to 4 B.C. over a great province, and had countless people at his beck and call. He commissioned the construction of many magnificent buildings in Jerusalem. He had immense riches, and every pleasure imaginable. Then he heard of a little child coming to Bethlehem, who was supposed to be a king. Angry that someone had come along to upset his comfortable and prestigious lifestyle, Herod ordered the child to be murdered. We can sometimes be similar to Herod. We wish to be king, in charge. We don’t want a small baby stealing our throne.


Yet Christ calls use to be like a child (see Matthew 19). He urges us not to be proud and pompous, but to be meek and humble. This is a hard challenge, but it is one that we must face if we are to be Men of Christ. Putting aside our pride, we must ask Christ, “What do you wish me to do?”






During this joyous Christmas season, I offer you this challenge: shouldn’t Jesus get presents on his birthday? We do. Ask Christ what you can give him on his birthday this year. As Maximus put it in the movie Gladiator, “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” Life is short. Make the most of it!