we must consider the earth as worthless, or we will remain enslaved
power, and honors, blinding us to the true purpose of our existence. Our hearts become entangled in the snares of avarice, ambition, and lust, preventing us from soaring above these worldly enticements. Our souls, captivated by the pleasures of the flesh, seek fulfillment and happiness solely on this earth. To cure us of this malady, the Lord, in His wisdom, exposes the vanity of this present life through the constant reminder of its miseries. He allows us to be assailed by conflicts, turmoil, and injustice, revealing the fleeting nature of worldly peace. He strips us of excessive wealth or restricts us to modest means, reminding us that earthly riches are transient and unsatisfying. He brings about periods of exile, scarcity, or calamity, teaching us the fragility of temporal blessings. He permits us to experience marital difficulties, the misconduct of our loved ones, or the anguish of loss, humbling us and redirecting our focus to eternal realities. And if in His mercy, He withholds these afflictions, He reminds us of our mortality and the brevity of earthly joys through diseases and dangers. It is through the discipline of the cross that we find true wisdom when we acknowledge that this life, when examined in itself, is restless, troubled, and filled with countless sorrows, devoid of genuine happiness. Its supposed blessings are but fleeting illusions, tainted by a mixture of evanescent joys and persistent evils. Hence, we understand that our purpose here is not to seek comfort or security but to engage in a spiritual contest, fixating our gaze upon the heavenly crown. Only when we have learned to despise the fleeting pleasures of this world can our hearts sincerely desire and aspire to the eternal joys of the future.
2. For there is no middle ground between these two choices: either we must consider the earth as worthless, or we will remain enslaved by an intemperate love for it. Therefore, if our gaze is fixed on eternity, we must diligently strive to free ourselves from the chains that bind us. Furthermore, since the present life entices us with its allurements and presents an illusion of delight, grace, and sweetness, it is of utmost importance that we are occasionally awakened from its seductive embrace. What would become of us if we were to enjoy an uninterrupted flow of honor and felicity in this earthly existence?