Sacrament of the present moment

I don’t care much for the false comforts of pop psychology with its modern conveniences of hiding your failures just because you want to present a positive attitude to the world. So things such as New Year’s resolutions mean less to me.

But I am a stern believer in an examined life. I try to live what Jean Pierre De Caussade called the sacrament of the present moment; the belief that the present moment is a sacrament from God and that self-abandonment to it and its needs is a holy state.

The sacrament of the present moment is not quietism as most people wrongly believe.

It is not the false inactivity of quietism but a true Christian resignation that is distinct from fatalism. It is a childlike trusting, peaceful abandonment to the guidance of grace, and the Holy Spirit, and is depicted perfectly in Mary’s unquestioning, undoubting submission to the holy will of God.

De Caussade says: “The present moment holds infinite riches beyond your wildest dreams but you will only enjoy them to the extent of your faith and love. The more a soul loves, the more it longs, the more it hopes, the more it finds.

“The will of God is manifest in each moment, an immense ocean which only the heart fathoms insofar as it overflows with faith, trust and love.”

When looking at one’s book of life, I will admit it is more convenient to do so through our historical calendar—at the end or beginning of the year—and checking if our joys, disappointments, struggles, victories, failures, correspond or tell us something about God’s plans for us. This is to see how we are imprinting ourselves through the time we have been given to live this life.

The question is whether, when we look back at the past year, do we bless or we curse it? What is blessed by us in gratitude God accepts and eternalises, and what is cursed means we either have not met God’s demands in our lives, or we have not yet understood them, for God, most of the time, speaks louder through our failings.

Karl Rahner counsels us never to think of ourselves as “so ill-willed, bitter, sceptical, gruff, or negative that such thinking transforms itself into a sceptical attitude towards God”.

In biblical terms, do not let your failings/sins come between you and God, especially since you’ve been given an open path through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The best attitude to adopt is that of St Paul in his seminal letter to the Romans. Know that you are a wretched man: “I do not understand my own behaviour; I do not act as I mean to, but I do things that I hate…for though the will to do what is good is in me, the power to do is not…Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death? God—thanks be to him—through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“The senses, in terror, suddenly cry to the soul, ‘Unhappy one! You have now no resource, you are lost,’ and instantly faith with a stronger voice answers: ‘Keep firm, go on, and fear nothing.’” (De Caussade)

God has you covered and all you need is to trust; nourished by faith and love to feed you with unfailing faith. So look back at the past year and bless it, know that it was just another step towards your entry “into the incomprehensible life of God”.

Say yes to the plan of God for the coming one, especially when you do not understand. When your book of life is revealed these are going to be moments the saving grace of God found you. Live each moment with the realisation that you are before the face of God, the holy ground that is the present moment which God, in his mercy, eternalises on your behalf.

• Watch your thoughts, they become words.
• Watch your words, they become actions.
• Watch your actions, they become habits.
• Watch your habits, they become character.
• Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.