The Time of Eternity

A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Next month, I will celebrate my 80th birthday, and usually when celebrating birthdays we think a little about eternity. Holy Scripture says, "Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are sorrow and toil; they pass quickly, we are all but gone." (Ps. 90:10) The aforementioned 79 years sort of flew by, especially the last eight where I got so busy with the web sites.

Many ask themselves, are we richer or poorer as the years go by? Well, financially poorer, definitely ... and spiritually richer, sure. Happier ... not so sure, but on the whole I am a happy lad. It was great to be younger and to be healthier where I was able to do many more things. But overall, I have no complaints as it is all for Jesus, Mary, and St. Francis and those for whom I am praying. We can all offer our difficulties for intentions that need praying for, and those difficulties will become sweet roses. Yes, with thorns, but still enlightening.

The time we spend on earth is a pittance compared to eternity. One could say that the amount of time measured by this (-) dash, could represent our lifetime, and eternity is from here to the moon, and we'd still not even come close to what the difference really is. We are but a speck of dust in all creation but despite that, the Father in Heaven knows us through and through. He stands by us with His gifts of Grace and Love.

God has given us gifts of talent, kindness, material resources, yes even love, and we waste much time in our lives in not taking advantage of all these generous Gifts. It wasn't until my 46th year in life that I finally began to recognize my responsibilities as a Christian. That was the year when I returned to Church and to the Sacraments after a 22-year absence. As each year passed after that, I became more active and found a new relationship with our Lord which is now strong, thanks to His guidance and help.

If we are able, at the end of our lives (and, remember, we do not know when that will be), to gain a high degree of love of God through growth in grace, then "our cup will run over." (see Ps. 23: 5b-6, "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come)." When we die, eternity begins. Hopefully it will be an eternity with God, in God, rather than an eternity away from God.

Will Rogers was once asked: "If you found that you had only 48 hours to live, how would you spend them?" He replied, "One at a time." There is no other way in which our days and hours come to us. That is why it is so important to make the most of each hour of each day. Many of us waste time for a number of years, and then as we begin to realize that our life on earth isn't forever, we shape up. We go see the priest, make a fresh slate of our conscience, and as St. Francis was apt to say, "We begin again for until now we have accomplished nothing."

Using the present well, does not require heroics. It isn't necessary to perform miraculous feats, the more so because we aren't capable of doing this. If we are Catholics, we just need to do what is required of us, and if we do those things, along with charity, stewardship, helpfulness to others (remember, loving your brother or sister), possibly volunteering at the parish, etc., we do not even have to do anything extraordinary, and our lives will shape up and we will find the Presence of the Lord in our daily existence. St. Paul seems to have had this in mind when he wrote: "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." (I Cor. 10:31)

Making the best use of time doesn't mean keeping very busy. It means using our time with some forethought, so that this time is used for the best of intentions, for God's glory. Peace!

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

August 24, 2010, rev. July 7, 2020

FR2-532