Your time is Up!
Beloved in Christ, as we begin this season of Lent, We read of the Prophet Jonah going through Nineveh urging them to repent of their sins. The people of Nineveh were given a time limit – 40 days to repent, or their city would be destroyed. The King of Nineveh did not waste any time, he proclaimed a fast – to try to save the city from God’s wrath.
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We can learn an important lesson from this King: we have limited time in this life. Each of us is given a certain number of years and minutes, to please God. St. Francis was once asked, ‘if you knew today was your last day on earth, what would you do? ‘I would keep on doing just what I am doing,’ he said.
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Can we say that? That what we are doing today is exactly what God would want me to be doing at this moment? It might be a good idea to watch carefully, for one full day, whether and how much we waste time. Hours before the television, or speaking about useless things. If we listen to our conscience, it tells us each moment what the Lord would prefer us to do, now.
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St. Josemaria says: ‘don’t waste your time throwing stones at dogs that bark at you along the way’. We should ignore the useless distractions of life, and do God’s will.
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A good day is begun well: that means, getting up on the dot. The saints call this the heroic minute: rising at the prescribed time. Ok, we like the snooze button. Then use it only once, and get up immediately. This could be a Lenten resolution.
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Many tell me that if they lounge in bed for even ten minutes, there is a sense that it throws off the whole day, and there can be dangerous temptations in the morning. You may have noticed, that if the night goes well, we get to bed on time, the morning seems to be much better. But using our time well, getting to bed – these things require renunciation of self. Turning off the television or the computer, closing the book in mid-chapter, saying ‘no’ to our will, ‘yes’ to God’s will.
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When we face our Master on the day of judgment, we will realize: ‘I have no more time.’ I remember in school, if I was not so prepared for a test – taking the test, there are still 10 more questions to go, but the teacher suddenly says: ‘TIMES UP! HAND IN YOUR PAPER. -Aghh, a feeling of dread.
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On that day of Eternity, when the Judge says, ‘Your time is up,’ how will we see today, and tomorrow? How have I used my time in this short life?
