Preparation is making something ready or getting geared up for occasion or duty. I have fond memories of my maternal grandmother, preparing for her summer bath on Colva beach in the month of March. She would join the simple and frugal village folks, who believed that sea bath is good for health. Her preparation for a fortnight of sea bath was full of excitement.
Politicians prepare themselves for the fast approaching election by introducing new schemes: such as, promising land for the landless; home for the homeless; job for the jobless. Many miserable people get carried away by false promises. Politicians win by creating vote banks. Elections are also won by creating divisions in society or by illegal and corrupt means which, undoubtedly, “Is country’s tragedy and people’s misery.” Having faith in politicians is a good thing, no doubt. But that faith should rest on facts, not emotions.
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As we all know that, “In the midst of life we are in death”; that is we are here today and gone tomorrow; which the present corona virus has shown us that at any stage one may drop down dead. Therefore, the priest tells us to prepare our soul for heavenly harmony for: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor.2:9).
Life on this good earth is a string of experiences, from happiness to unhappiness. We take pride in our external beauty which fades away as age advances; therefore, one should take pains to maintain one’s inner beauty for it never withers away.
We also look for satisfaction and prepare to attain it by forming a group. Some of us get influenced with good ideas; and others get victimised with evil information from bad bunch. But whatever that be, our relationships with people are subject to its limitations; as our body is exposed to disease, creeping old age and death. Yet we create our History, with our soft spoken calm words or angry expression and deeds on the sands of time on this good Earth.
As we are not going to be forever on this Globe, we have to prepare to give to earth what belongs to earth, that is our body; and to give to God what is God’s, namely, our soul; for Him to reward us or punish us as He did for the rich man and Lazarus in the Bible (Lk.16:19-22).
The rich man, who was cast in hell, knew the mindset of his brothers on earth and wanted to prepare them not to terminate in hell, like him after death. Therefore, he requested Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers to repent and change their life from bad to good. Abraham replied, “… If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” (Lk.16:29-22).
On hearing this answer, from Father Abraham, we should rejoice, for we who are living on this earth can mend our evil ways and prepare ourselves to attain heaven; we can do nothing after death. The everlasting happiness can be experienced with God alone. If we don’t correct our ways, we will live dangerously like a car without brakes.
