Value of the Present in Achieving Perfection
I think that I am deficient in the practice of the Holy Virtues. I would like to practice them more perfectly, because I tell myself: become a saint [today], for tomorrow you will die. (OOCC, X, p. 522; STA, 130)
The time God has allotted to a human person consists of the past, the present and the future. Of these three, the present is the most significant, because the past and the future are understood only in relation to the present. The past can be viewed as the memory of the present, while the future can be considered as the hope of the present. Strictly speaking, memory and hope are not real because the former refers to the events that have already taken place while the latter points to the events that are yet to take place. What has already taken place and what is yet to take place are not as real as what is taking place, namely, the present. Hence, the present is the most significant time and a person must focus on it rather than wasting his energy on the past or the future. St. Vincent Pallotti realized the importance of the present, especially in a person’s pursuit of perfection. He said that he intended to perform all acts of virtue in such a way that they would have the required perfection in the here and now. In other words, he directed all his energies in achieving perfection at the present moment rather than diverting his energies to feeling guilty for his past failure or anxious about his future action. While leaving the past and the future to God and focusing on the present state of his perfection, St. Vincent was able to reach higher stages of perfection.
Do I understand the value and importance of the present? Is my spiritual life focused on the present? Do I use my energies to build my spiritual life in the here and now? Do I waste my energies worrying about the past and the future?
So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Mt. 6:34)