"Bad times, hard times - this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times; such as we are, such are the times. " (Sermon 80:8)
Reflection
Saint Augustine: Bad Times, Good Times, and the Making of Society
St Augustine of Hippo lived through both good times and troubled times. He witnessed the decline of the Roman world, political uncertainty, social unrest, and moral confusion. Yet St Augustine understood a profound truth: the quality of a society is shaped by the quality of the people who make it up. As we behave, so society becomes. What we tolerate in private eventually becomes accepted in public. What is done in hidden corners and anonymity today, often becomes the culture of society tomorrow.
Learn more from what we do than what we say
Our young people learn far more from what we do than from what we say. Our choices, our conduct, and even our votes reveal what we truly value. We may lament failing services, unemployment, potholes, injustice, corruption, or lack of opportunity. We may struggle with poor infrastructure, unreliable utilities, and economic hardship. These are real challenges. Yet St Augustine would remind us that the deepest measure of good times is not found in wealth or convenience, but in virtue.
Place Christ at the centre of our homes and hearts
When we rise each morning and place Christ at the centre of our homes and hearts, it is already a good day. When we refuse to cheat, it is a good day, as heart-breaking consequences will not await us down the line. When we work diligently, honour our commitments, and remain faithful in our relationships, we create goodness around us. Integrity shines like a lighthouse when it guides every part of life. Even if we are not materially wealthy, we can be rich in character.
Let our words be pure, our thoughts noble, and our actions honourable. Then the times will indeed be good, regardless of the troubles that surround us. The wholesome spiritual water flowing from our families and communities will nourish the wider society. Goodness eventually overcomes what is degraded and corrupt. Truth outlasts falsehood. Love conquers hatred. Above all, Christ gives a peace that no circumstance can take away.
Lumen Christi
Holiness shines like a beacon from the hilltop of a home, bringing hope and joy to neighbours and strangers alike. The times become good when we strive to be good. They become great when our faith and kindness grow great. And they become truly extraordinary when, in our own small way, we allow Christ to shine His Light through us into the world.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Family at Morning Prayer"
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