On what area of your life does spiritual procrastination have a strong hold? - Daily Reflections March 14,2014

HASTA MAÑANA

 

It was semestral break in the seminary. One morning, I did a general room cleaning. In the afternoon, I opened my letters which had already accumulated to a pile about six-inch thick. My attention was caught by an unusual envelope which had nothing written on it but the words “Enjoy.” I opened it and inside was a free meal stub for two at my favorite restaurant, sent by a friend. My heart skipped a beat. I will have a good dinner. But when I checked the back of the stub. the promo had already expired.

       This reminded me of a story about a man named Bill. He had never gone to church in his life. One day, he said, “When it freezes in June (June is summer time in the States), then I will go to church.”

       One year there was an unusually cold spring and it stayed that way into June. The temperature dipped to freezing point for several nights. Everyone thought about what Bill had said. Perhaps this time he would finally attend church. And he did. One Sunday, Bill made his first appearance in the church building: the organ was playing, six men carried him in. Bill finally made it, but he was lying in a casket instead of sitting on a pew.

       Don’t wait until you’re “frozen” before you decide to enter God’s house. Meditate on today’s First Reading. Ezekiel speaks of the need for the wicked man to turn away from his sins, for a time of accounting will come. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of settling issues with an opponent.

       Like me and Bill, we are all fond of the mañana habit, or putting off for tomorrow what can and should be done today. More frightening is spiritual procrastination, for he who procrastinates in this life will have an eternity to regret it. Let me end by reconstructing a poem once forwarded to me. I love to be with God’s people to read the Bible and pray, To sing songs of salvation, so I’ll go to church today. But procrastination is my sin, it has brought me nothing but sorrow. Ah, I know, I shall be converted… Tomorrow. Fr. Joel Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: On what area of your life does spiritual procrastination have a strong hold?

 

Lord, help me to not put off for tomorrow what I need to do today — to put You at the center of my life and follow Your will.