Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (May 23, 2018): Do you live in the now or never?

The only time we have is now. The past is gone and can now only be used as an instruction manual on how to live today. The future is only a guess, even when the Lord has revealed some of it to us. But my-oh-my how we try to get out of the present!

If we are not living in the now, we are living in the never because now is all we’ve got.

To let go of the past, we need to forgive ourselves and whoever else has hurt us. To let go of the future, we have to pray for it and let God be in charge of it. Whatever is going on now in your life, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant, it is a stepping stone that will take you to the future, but it is not the future.

What are you doing with today’s stepping stone? Stubbing your toe? Or are you making the most of each now mo0ment? Are you using it to honor God? Will it make a difference for all of eternity?

The message in today’s first reading is a good cure for procrastination: “You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.” How humbling to realize this!

If we see ourselves as a mere puff of smoke (there’s not much to see, huh?), we understand how important it is to do all that God calls us to do, commands us to do, shows us to do. We understand how important it is to not waste precious moments lingering in unholiness or unhealthy mental attitudes. We understand that we should not wait another day to get to the Sacrament of Reconciliation or to find the spiritual director we need. We understand how important it is to touch others’ lives in a way that reveals God’s love.

There is no room in Christianity for mediocrity. One of the deadliest sins is sloth, i.e., laziness. Do you know why this is a mortal sin, a sin that destroys our souls? Sloth — apathy — doing nothing when something needs to be done — fear that paralyzes us — procrastination of works of mercy — delaying our vocation — reluctance to repent: These are all weapons that the Enemy uses to keep us from experiencing and enjoying the love and purposes that God has for us. These are all spears that pierce our souls with poisoned tips.

We only have now to avail ourselves of God’s love. If we’re procrastinating anything that God wants us to do right now, we are now shutting ourselves off from God. “When one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin,” said St. James. What is God asking you to do right now?

Today’s Prayer:

My God, help me to be aware that I only have this day and moment to live. I ask You to help me live one day at a time, and may each day be a praise to Your love that saved us. Amen.