The Mental Health Benefits of Recognizing Life’s Temporality

The awareness that our time on earth is limited is not morbid—it is holy wisdom. In the Catholic tradition, believers are encouraged to meditate daily on the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. This reflection, far from dark, brings clarity, peace, and purpose. It roots us, humbles the heart, and draws the soul toward God’s mercy and eternal hope.

1. Renewed Focus and Eternal Purpose

When we remember that our life is brief and our ultimate destiny eternal, we learn to live with intention and love.

·         Ordering Our Priorities: Trivial distractions fade when we remember our life will be judged by how we loved God and neighbour.

·         Living for Heaven: Each day becomes an opportunity to grow in virtue and fulfil God’s calling rather than chase fleeting gains.

2. Deepened Gratitude and Joy

Recognizing life as a fragile gift leads to a spirit of thanksgiving.

·         Grace in Every Moment: We savour the present as a taste of God’s goodness, from shared meals to quiet prayer.

·         Joy Rooted in Hope: Knowing our true home is heaven fills ordinary life with meaning and joy beyond circumstance.

3. Freedom from Fear

For those in Christ, death is not the end but the doorway to eternal life.

·         Peace in Mortality: Reflecting on the Four Last Things—especially heaven—transforms fear into hope.

·         Perspective in Trials: Remembering eternity places our sorrows in God’s redemptive light, reminding us that suffering, too, can sanctify.

4. Authentic Love and Reconciliation

Life’s brevity calls us to love as Christ loves.

·         Cherishing Others: Knowing our time is short encourages forgiveness, compassion, and tenderness toward others.

·         Letting Go of Grudges: We value peace over pride, desiring hearts ready to stand before God in charity.

Nightly Reflection: The Four Last Things

We are invited to find peace by ending each day recalling: Death – my life is finite; Judgment – I will give account before God; Heaven – the joy prepared for the faithful; and Hell – the loss that comes from rejecting love. This gentle nightly meditation aligns our hearts with eternity and keeps our souls anchored in truth and humility.

Remembering life’s temporality is not meant to breed fear but to deepen faith. For the Christian, every sunset is a reminder that life is passing—but also that eternal dawn awaits in Christ.

Fr Jude Mukoro, MBACP, FHEA Reflection on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)