What Lasts

January 10th, 2016 Posted in writing

Why does it seem that Christmas gifts, especially toys, usually don’t make it through the year without getting lost or broken or worn out? It has to do no doubt with the way they get used or cared for or the materials that are in them.

But isn’t the same thing true of other things? Cars wear out, for instance, though we call their wearing out “planned obsolescence,” which is just a fancy way to say that we shouldn’t expect them to last forever. Roads and bridges, too, need resurfacing, maintenance, even rebuilding from time to time. And, above all, relationships demand attention and care, though, despite our best efforts, they sometimes break and can’t be fixed. Yes, ours is a world where many or most things seem not to last.

But deep down, we don’t want that to be the case for everything. Our hearts long for something that will last, a relationship that will endure. St. Augustine wrote about the restlessness we feel until we rest in God. Why will that give us rest? Because God’s love and his Word, Jesus, are, as St. Paul wrote, “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) and “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Romans 8:38-39).

Several weeks ago, Christmas reminded us that we never have to fear that God will one day leave us. And in just a few weeks, we will begin the season of Lent, when we’ll have a chance to remember and celebrate how unbelievably faithful God is — to us and to his promise to stay with us no matter what else in our world may break down, wear out or come apart.

  1. One Response to “What Lasts”

  2. By Pheelyp on Jan 14, 2016

    As someone who’s world is breaking down, wearing out and coming apart, these words are consoling.

    Thank you, father.

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