Irony and Gratitude

[Wm777]

I watched a video this afternoon presented by a Jewish convert to Catholicism. The speaker was a Harvard Prof, who had an encounter with the Blessed Mother, and converted to Catholicism shortly afterward.

He repeatedly mentions the fleetingness of one’s time on earth is nothing compared to the eternal glory of heaven. Spiritually - while it’s refreshing to hear - it’s nothing really new. The New Testament is full of such statements, like “He who hates his life in this world would preserve it for the next.”

Please note - I’m not in a bad mood right now, but the speaker’s comments got me thinking - “How many times do I come home from work all too happy to tell God I’m ready to give up the ghost?” But - when it happens - I also feel it is important to correct myself and be grateful for the good things God has given me!

But, then, it’s like one gets run in a circle. How is one to despise the things of one’s life in this world, especially in longing for the next, and yet be grateful about it? That doesn’t make any sense. It is (at best) ironic.

Am I, however, making sense of the irony? How is one to discern a reconciliation with respect to the issue?

God’s Blessings,

Wm

 

[Dan_Defender]

‘God does well in giving the grace of consolation, but man does evil in not returning everything
gratefully to God. Thus, the gifts of grace cannot flow in us when we are ungrateful to the Giver,
when we do not return them to the Fountainhead. Grace is always given to him who is duly grateful,
and what is wont to be given the humble will be taken away from the proud.
I do not desire consolation that robs me of contrition, nor do I care for contemplation that leads
to pride, for not all that is high is holy, nor is all that is sweet good, nor every desire pure, nor all
that is dear to us pleasing to God. I accept willingly the grace whereby I become more humble and
contrite, more willing to renounce self.’ - The Imitation of Christ