"When Julius Caesar, at the age of 33,
considered the achievements of Alexander the Great, he wept. His sighs
and tears did not come as a result of mourning or fear for his own life,
but from a sobering recognition: Alexander had conquered the world
before the age of 33 and yet he (Caesar) had done nothing remotely
similar, nothing that would warrant remembrance by future generations in
the same amount of time (see The Life of Julius Caesar,
by Plutarch). What, then, was the worth of his life? Who would remember
an average Roman governor of Spain? Who would remember the name of
Caesar?
"This line of questioning seems to be a common experience. At some point in our lives, we all seem to ask the same question: Have I made a difference? And again: What do I have to show for the past year, decade, lifetime? This type of questioning can lead people to a 'mid-life crisis' - radical changes in an effort to be remembered."
In a recent commentary, Brother Pachomius Walker, O.P., reflected on how, as God's beloved, we "glory not in temporal accomplishments but rather rejoice that our names are written in heaven."
To access Br. Pachomius' complete post, please visit:
Dominicana: And Caesar Wept… (1 MAY 20)
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