Taking the time to be holy

 

As I was reading the Bible today, I was reminded of the importance of having an interior disposition towards God in my life.

There’s something humbling about a vast star-filled sky, the Pacific Ocean breaking against a rocky coastline, and the mountains of Yosemite.

They remind us of the power and majesty of God’s creation and can cause us to ponder the significance of our lives [Genesis 1:20—2:4].  Are we “little less than the angels” with dominion over the wild beasts [Psalms 8:4-9], or just a small part of God’s very large plan or both?

Contemplating these root questions leads us to the central message that Jesus teaches in Mark’s Gospel.  Do we focus so much on trivial and transitory demands (rules/requirements) that we “disregard God’s commandment and cling to what is human tradition?” [Mark 7:1-13]

It’s a matter of keeping things in perspective—of developing an overriding sense of how God wants us to live.

Sometimes, it helps me to take 10 minutes to think about what I’d like my obituary to say.  Not one version has led with “attended countless work meetings,” “kept his lawns mowed” or “loved to spend hours alone working crossword puzzles.”

I strongly suspect that God’s priorities for our lives have more to do with taking time to be kind to others and even (or especially) to ourselves.  Perhaps the most important line in the passage from Genesis I read today is “so God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.”

This reminds us that God’s plan for our lives mandates time to rest, and time to think—time to become holy by getting in touch with Him and our deeper selves.

So go to the ocean or mountains or a place where you can see the stars or take a walk around your block and enjoy the flora and fauna that God gave us dominion over.  Get in touch with God and yourself even if it means neglecting or delaying something you think you should do.

Five years from now, will anyone care if you finished every item on your “to do” list on time?

My divine Lord, You and You alone are worthy of all worship, adoration and praise.  You and You alone deserve the worship I offer You from the depths of my heart.  Help me and Your entire Church to always interiorize our exterior acts of worship so as to give You the glory that is due Your holy name.  Jesus, I trust in You.