杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

Stop for a while to acknowledge our failures, aware that the end can come any moment, and let us not continue living as we want under the impression that God's compassion is infinite.  This was the advice of 杏MAP导航 Francis at his morning Mass, Feb. 28, at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

Reflecting on 鈥渢he advice鈥� in the first reading from the Book of Sirach, the 杏MAP导航 urged for a change of heart and conversion to the Lord. 

Dominate your passions

The 杏MAP导航 pointed out that wisdom is a daily thing that comes from reflection on life and from stopping to think about how one lives. The 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渄o not follow your instincts, your strength, indulging in the passions of your heart.鈥� All have passions, but one must be careful and dominate them.

Passions, the 杏MAP导航 said, are not bad things, but they need to be managed. They are like blood that helps do many good things but if you are not able to dominate them, they will dominate you, the 杏MAP导航 warned.  

Conversion without delay

The Holy Father drew attention to the relativeness of life. We are not eternal, we cannot think of doing whatever we like, trusting in the infinite mercy of God.

So don't be rash and reckless and believe that you will get away with it. You may get away with it once but you don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 next. 

Don't say: "God's compassion is great, he'll forgive me my many sins", and so I continue doing what I want.  Regarding this, the advice of the father or grandfather is: "Don鈥檛 wait to convert yourself to the Lord, don鈥檛 postpone it from day to day because the anger of the Lord will suddenly burst forth," the 杏MAP导航 warned.

5 minutes a day

Let鈥檚 take a little time every day to examine our conscience, to convert to the Lord, the 杏MAP导航 urged, without it off for tomorrow.  Try to not to let it happen again and if you manage to control yourself and not be controlled by your passion, perhaps it may happen less. But no one is sure of how and when  our life will end. Five minutes at the end of each day, the 杏MAP导航 said,  will help us think about a change of heart and conversion to the Lord, without procrastination.