«We live well the times and the times will be good. We are the times ». I was very reflected on the quote of Sant’Agostinorelaunched by Pope Leone XIV in his first meeting with the press.
Too difficult to discuss the philosophical and theological concept of time: For the bishop of Hippona, the most modern of ancient theologians, time does not exist in himself, it is not eternal because only God is eternal, it exists in the human soul as a memory, as attention and as expected, past, present and future.
And we, as he said Gandalf to the small dismayed fraud of the dark times in which one was forced to live, “We can only decide what to do in the time that is given to us”.
It is fruitful to grasp the scope of this thought in everyday life. We live well the day, and the day will be goodwe could translate. And you live well if yes thank youthat is, if you recognize a positivity, for us, in life, on occasions, in meetings.
It is not a voluntary optimism that we can take as effort or good intention. But it is an attitude there gratitudeto be here and now first of all, and for everything that of good and beautiful and dearly also incidentally touches our person. Faces, smiles, words, sky, thoughts.
There is always at least one reason, even in suffocating or dark situations, for Thank you thanks. And a chain of graces used to other graces, change our posture, our tension to fate, coexistence with others.
Gratitude It is today an not very popular value for our culture: it dominates self -centeredness and therefore the complaint, regardless. Because the lack is a character of humanity and instead of becoming consciousness, that is, spur, that is, a question of fullness, crushes and depress.
We always complain, for everything and everyone, and the lament seems sweet, seems to console the penalty, to vent the bitterness. And instead Rode and Corrode Little by little and makes us more and more hateful and cynical.
Long ago, in a Popolo Naturaliter Christianuseven with all his flaws and sins, was usual in theevening consciousness exam Thanksgiving, together with contrition for your mistakes. How it was usual Thank the Magnificat of Vespers Or before meals for food laboriously procured with work.
It was neither simpler nor easier life, it was different gaze. And participation in theEucharist era Thanksgiving school. But it continues to be, we must remember it.
We are uninhabited to gratitude, in my opinion, because we have lost awareness of the grace: to be made and Christian facts, loved and saved, despite all Despite of living.
We must ask for the grace to know how to thankbecause it is certain, every morning, that there will be a good reason to do it. Must Review our children to say thanks, re -tear to give and receive gratitude Without shielding yourself with embarrassment, for superficial and not always true humility.
Thanking is good for the heart. And, the modern psychology tells us, to body healthas well as the soul: increases the levels of serotonin, gratifies. And it is precisely a Free remedy.
(photo above: Istock)