Meditations

On the Use of Time. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5, 15 and 16. All our heart and all our time are not too much to give to God. He gave them to us only to serve and love Him. So let us not hold anything back from Him. We cannot be doing great things all the time, but we can do the things that are suitable to our condition in life. We are already doing a great deal if we hold our tongues, suffer and pray when we cannot do something outwardly. To offer up to God each mishap, setback, complaint or confusion. To comfort a sick person, encourage a downcast soul, prevent suffering at its onset, teach a person who needs instruction, or soften the heart of someone who is bitter, all these things serve to redeem eternity through the good use of time. But to truly gain eternity, we must redeem the time itself, as St. Paul says. This means that we must renounce engaging in excessive amusements and unnecessary exchanges with other people. We need to renounce pouring out our hearts to others in order to flatter our self-esteem and carry on conversations that divert the mind, so that we can be free to go about God's work more diligently. Promise Him that you will be faithful to your disciplines of prayer and worship.