God has made us in his own image so that we might truly become like him, in purity, and charity, and holiness.  And he has given us our life which we are living now, in which to become so.  And when it is eventually over so will our time of probation be over, and we shall be called on to justify our existence before him.  God will say to each of us, “I have given you your life: what have you done with it?  I have given you your soul: what have you made of it?”

There will be no excuses then such as we employ here to camouflage the true facts: for in the words of Holy Scripture, “…all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account” (NRSV, Hebrews 4:13).

We shall then instead reflect on the abundance of opportunities which God has lavished upon us: his own words freely given to us in Holy Scripture, bringing us the knowledge of all that his Son has done and suffered to accomplish our perfection; the gift of Holy Communion and all the opportunities to join in the worship of the Church; the warnings we have so often heard to repent and amend our lives and devote them to him; and our church with the Blessed Sacrament reserved in it inviting our prayers and adoration.