Snares and dangers

To this multitude of snares and dangers (of the world) is added yet another misery which makes them even greater: the blindness and darkness of worldly persons, which if fittingly symbolized by the darkness recorded in the land of Egypt during the time of Moses [Ex 10:21] So dense was this darkness that for three days no man could see his neighbor nor move out of the place where he was. Such is the darkness which the world suffers, only it is much worse. What greater blindness for so many men to believe as they do and yet to live as they do? What greater blindness that to think so much of men and take so little notice of God? To be so solicitous about the laws of the world and so negligent about the laws of God? To work so energetically for the body, which is but dust, and so little for the soul, which is an image of the divine Majesty? To store up so many riches for this life, which may end tomorrow, and lay aside nothing for the next life, which will endure forever? Knowing for certain that we must die and that the moment of death will determine our state for all eternity, what greater blindness than to live as carelessly as if we were to remain on earth forever? What greater blindness that to forego the heritage of heaven for the satisfaction of a passion; to have such regard for possessions and so little for conscience; to want all one’s things to be good but not to worry whether one’s life is good? Men have eyes sharper than lynxes for the things of this world but are blinder than moles in regard to the things of heaven.

Louis of Granada, Summa of the Christian Life, Volume 2, Chapter 2