If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
Growth in holiness is not optional since without it "no one will see the Lord" (see Hebrews 12:14). Sooner is always better than later in this regard. If we close ourselves to the work the Lord wants to do in us now and imagine that we are putting it off until a more convenient time, perhaps until Purgatory, we are in fact hardening our hearts, and therefore giving the Lord more to do. The longer we wait to avail ourselves of his grace the more calcified layers there will be from which to excavate our hardened hearts.
If we are in a state of grace the transformation we do not complete in this life will take place inexorably in Purgatory. And in many ways Purgatory is nothing to fear, it is the fire of God's love that will help us to pay back "the last penny" of debt keeping us from the fullness of his presence. But if we see ourselves heading in this direction, and if we recognize that our destiny is to appear before the judgment seat of God (see Second Corinthians 5:10), then how can we hesitate in such a way as to make this debt grow larger and increasingly more intractable?
When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
We tend to be prudent about our earthly priorities, highly strategic and practical in planning based on any signs we can interpret. But there is no more urgent sign than the coming of Jesus into our midst. Response to other signs might help us to travel safely our reap a better harvest. But our eternal destiny is contingent on our response to the Son of Man. If dark storm clouds were heading toward us we wouldn't leave the laundry out on a clothesline. How much less should we be willing to leave ourselves exposed and unhealed when the coming of Jesus draws closer day by day?
After all, holiness is not really a negative. Our egos fear it as though it will vacuum all of the fun out of life. But it is really our only hope. Humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity that the Spirit make possible are far better than the violence and discord in which we find ourselves when left to our own resources. We were made for God and we should not and need not wait to draw near to him.
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
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