You are not sure how and when your life will end. Hence, examine your conscience, dominate your passions, and convert without delay.
According to Vatican News, Pope Francis stressed this during his daily morning Mass at his residence Casa Santa Marta.
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.
Recalling today’s advice in the First Reading from the Book of Sirach, the Roman Pontiff called on faithful to have a change of heart and convert to the Lord.
Wisdom, the Jesuit Pope highlighted, is a daily thing that comes from reflecting on life and from stopping to think about how one lives.
“Do not follow your instincts, your strength, indulging in the passions of your heart,” Francis warned, acknowledging all have passions, but one must be careful and dominate them.
The Holy Father recognized that passions 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,» he said.
Francis reminded those in his chapel that we are not eternal and therefore cannot do whatever we want, trusting in God’s infinite mercy.
Don’t believe you will get away with it
«So don’t be rash and reckless and believe that you will get away with it,» the Pontiff admonished, saying: «You may get away with it once, but you don’t know what’s next.»
«Don’t say: ‘God’s compassion is great, he’ll forgive me my many sins,’ and so I continue doing what I want,» Francis underscored, adding: «Regarding this, the advice of the father or grandfather is: «Don’t wait to convert yourself to the Lord, don’t postpone it from day to day because the anger of the Lord will suddenly burst forth.»
Don’t Put Off Conversion For Tomorrow
The Pope went on to give some daily homework, requiring only five minutes a day: «Let’s take a little time every day to examine our conscience, to convert to the Lord, without putting 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,» he said.
Again stressing that no one is sure of how and when our life will end, Francis concluded, reminding: «Five minutes at the end of each day will help us think about a change of heart and conversion to the Lord, without procrastination.»
The Holy Father recognized that passions 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,» he said.
Francis reminded those in his chapel that we are not eternal and therefore cannot do whatever we want, trusting in God’s infinite mercy.
Don’t believe you will get away with it
«So don’t be rash and reckless and believe that you will get away with it,» the Pontiff admonished, saying: «You may get away with it once, but you don’t know what’s next.»
«Don’t say: ‘God’s compassion is great, he’ll forgive me my many sins,’ and so I continue doing what I want,» Francis underscored, adding: «Regarding this, the advice of the father or grandfather is: «Don’t wait to convert yourself to the Lord, don’t postpone it from day to day because the anger of the Lord will suddenly burst forth.»
Don’t Put Off Conversion For Tomorrow
The Pope went on to give some daily homework, requiring only five minutes a day: «Let’s take a little time every day to examine our conscience, to convert to the Lord, without putting 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,» he said.
Again stressing that no one is sure of how and when our life will end, Francis concluded, reminding: «Five minutes at the end of each day will help us think about a change of heart and conversion to the Lord, without procrastination.»
