Knowledge of Self: Day Five

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Day seventeen at Fish Eaters.

Day seventeen at The Catholic Company.

The first part of the reading today is from Imitation of Christ which tells us: "In all things consider the end." That's great advice for all, including atheists (the hope is: in considering the final end or destination, they may be granted the grace of knowing God through faith). But then the reading continues into some uncomfortable truth:

... how you shall stand before the strict Judge from Whom nothing is hidden and Who will pronounce judgment in all justice, accepting neither bribes nor excuses. And you, miserable and wretched sinner, who fear even the countenance of an angry man, what answer will you make to the God Who knows all your sins?

Hopefully, we will all remember not to demand justice from God, but to ask for mercy. This and the final part from Imitation of Christ provides an interpretive key for the parable of the dishonest steward in Luke, which follows: "Why do you not provide for yourself against the day of judgment?" 

The final lines may be perplexing for some (I raise my hand😏): 

And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light (Luke 16:8). 

The shrewdness of the dishonest steward is in that he prepared for the time to come, as Christians should prepare for the judgment. We should make friends for ourselves in heaven (think Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), we should forgive those who are indebted to us. The steward's worry about his future...

(What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.)

 ... should be our worry about our day of judgment. For when we die, there is nothing we can do change our provision for the future. If we're serious about being welcomed into our heavenly home, today is a great day to start. "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!"