September 24, 2010
Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
By Melanie Rigney
There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)
Lord, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him? Man is like a breath; his days, like a passing shadow. (Psalms 144:-3-4)
Then (Jesus) said to (the disciples), "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Christ of God." (Luke 9:20)
Piety
God, grant us the serenity to accept things we cannot change, courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference; patience for the things that take time, appreciation for all that we have, and tolerance for those with different struggles; freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other, and the strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless. (Reinhold Niebuhr)
Study
“Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” by the Byrds
Are you the same person you were when you started high school? When you began your first job? When you had your first child? When you made your Cursillo Weekend?
Are you the same person you were yesterday?
Four years ago, I was on fire for God after a lengthy absence from faith, and the way that worked for me to show that, the call I felt, was to volunteer for or participate in practically every parish program available. Parish Council, season-specific small-faith groups, ushering, greeting, you name it, I was there. It was a time to drink deeply, to overwhelm myself sometimes with the Body of Christ.
What time was it for you then?
These days, the fire is still there, but the Lord’s call has changed. He uses the skill he’s given me to carry the Word in writing, through books and devotions. I find myself carving out more quiet time in prayer, listening to how God desires that I use this skill. It’s a somewhat lonelier ministry—you don’t see me at my parish much these days beyond Sunday Mass—but it is rich and fulfilling. It is a time to think deeply, to overwhelm myself sometimes as I work to listen more and talk less in prayer and by extension with people in my life.
What time is it for you today?
Where will we all be—physically, emotionally, spiritually—four years from now? Only God knows. But then, he’s the only one who really needs to know. His constant presence is what matters. The rest is a passing shadow.
Action
Are you continuing to do something—hold a grudge, engage in an activity—even after God has indicated its time has passed? Are you fearful of a call that’s tugging at your soul? Pray for the wisdom to do God’s will.
