Daily Retreat 08/05/07
2007 Aug 5 SUN:EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23/ Ps 89(90):3-4. 5-6. 12-13. 14. 17 (1)/ Col 3:1-5. 9-11/ Lk 12:13- 21
From today’s readings: “Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities!... If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.... Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.... Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Working Hard for What?
Even though, like you, I suspect there are many lazy, idle people in the world, I can’t recall having ever met a single person who considered himself such! Every person I know will, when given the chance, explain how busy he is and how hard he must work just to keep up with everything. It’s hardly surprising then that one of the most frequent compliments I get about these virtual retreat reflections is that I keep them short and sweet so even those with hectic schedules have time to read them.
So apparently, we’re all busy, all working hard - at least in our own minds! Leaving aside for a moment the issue of whether or not we all actually are as busy as we claim to be, let’s consider just the question of: What is it that we’re all busy about?
Well, the answer to that varies, of course, according to one’s life and priorities, so I can only gently encourage you to take a few moments from your busy schedule to think about what it is that makes up that mess of overwhelming urgencies that dictates how you spend your time. It would be ideal to write these down on a list (and yes, I’m sure it will be a long list!).
Now take your list and read through it to make sure nothing has been left out. Then, put your list to the side for a moment, and read the Sunday scriptures. The First Reading, the Psalm, the Second Reading, and the Gospel all have crucial insights which are meant to give you and me a new perspective about our “busy list.” No matter how busy we are and how hard we’re working, you and I do best to make the time to consider carefully and completely God’s appraisal of both the busyness of our whole business, and the whole business of our busyness!
Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23/ Ps 89(90):3-4. 5-6. 12-13. 14. 17 (1)/ Col 3:1-5. 9-11/ Lk 12:13- 21
From today’s readings: “Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities!... If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.... Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.... Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Working Hard for What?
Even though, like you, I suspect there are many lazy, idle people in the world, I can’t recall having ever met a single person who considered himself such! Every person I know will, when given the chance, explain how busy he is and how hard he must work just to keep up with everything. It’s hardly surprising then that one of the most frequent compliments I get about these virtual retreat reflections is that I keep them short and sweet so even those with hectic schedules have time to read them.
So apparently, we’re all busy, all working hard - at least in our own minds! Leaving aside for a moment the issue of whether or not we all actually are as busy as we claim to be, let’s consider just the question of: What is it that we’re all busy about?
Well, the answer to that varies, of course, according to one’s life and priorities, so I can only gently encourage you to take a few moments from your busy schedule to think about what it is that makes up that mess of overwhelming urgencies that dictates how you spend your time. It would be ideal to write these down on a list (and yes, I’m sure it will be a long list!).
Now take your list and read through it to make sure nothing has been left out. Then, put your list to the side for a moment, and read the Sunday scriptures. The First Reading, the Psalm, the Second Reading, and the Gospel all have crucial insights which are meant to give you and me a new perspective about our “busy list.” No matter how busy we are and how hard we’re working, you and I do best to make the time to consider carefully and completely God’s appraisal of both the busyness of our whole business, and the whole business of our busyness!
posted by FrPitstick | 8/03/2007
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