FOR THE SAKE OF POSTERITY

There are only two ways that a person can leave his or her mark in the world: for good or for bad. In both cases, a person will be remembered for what he has done. Most people, deep down in the recesses of their being, desire to leave a mark in the world so that succeeding generations will not forget them.

Today’s first reading implies that this will be the case for most of us. However, there are some who succeed in doing something that will cause them to be remembered by future generations.

Hitler and so many others will be remembered for generations because of the evil they committed. Let us seek to do good and be remembered for that. Ultimately it is not important if the world does not acknowledge the good we do because it is what God sees in our lives that is important. He sees everything, even that which we do in secret. It would be nice to be remembered for our good deeds, but that is not essential. Knowing that God is aware of what we are doing ought to be enough acknowledgment for us.

One of the implicit dynamics of doing good is that it tends to foster more good. That is, when we make the sacrifice to live a holy and righteous life, we will inspire others to do the same. This is not just a side benefit of good deeds; it is inherent in their nature. This is how a culture of goodness is developed. It becomes a power to be reckoned with in the midst of all the other cultures around us. As Christians, we ought to develop a counterculture of Christian values in the midst of the world. This means not just assuming the values of the cultural milieu around us but discerning what is Christian within it and accepting it and rejecting the values that are opposed to the Gospel. This requires constant and diligent work and attention – implying that becoming a saint will not be an easy task. No, it’s not, but the rewards and potential influence of a saint’s life are certainly worth the effort of gaining it. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

Reflection Question:

Have I ever considered how strongly I am influenced by the society in which I live, the friends I spend time with, etc.? I wonder if all of these influences are doing me good?

 

Jesus, help me to discern the values of my society that are worth promoting and teach me how to correct those that are not aligned with the Gospel.

 

St. Owen, pray for us.