The WORD today reminds me that there is a time for everything.
When I was new to corporate life, I was blessed to be part of a good team. People were friendly - my teammates and even our manager at that time. I felt at ease and comfortable with my team. However, I was surprised when I attended my first team meeting/conference call. I saw the other side of my teammates and my boss. They were very serious and professional. They taught me that indeed, there is a time for everything – a time to be friendly, casual and warm, and a time to be serious, professional and to mean business. This is what Jesus is telling us in the gospel.
There is a time for everything.
When the disciples of John, who always fast, asked Jesus why his disciples don’t fast, his reply was that there is a time for his disciples to fast, but not yet now since Jesus was still with them. Jesus is a reason to celebrate and they should learn all they can from him. Eventually, they will fast.
There is a time for everything. And he is reminding us that this applies until now. There is a time to be happy, have fun, and celebrate God’s goodness and love, but there is also a time to be serious, to be sorry for our sins and confess, and to fast. There should be a time to spend time with family, work, self and with loved ones, but also a time for God – of loving, praising and serving Him. There is a time to pray and wait for God’s plans to come true in our lives, and a time to enjoy it and thank him for it. There is a time for problems and challenges, but a time to enjoy victory and blessings from God as well. Too much of one is not good. There should always be a balance.
It is probably especially important during this pandemic to remember this. There is a time for everything. A time to worry and be paranoid enough that it leads us to follow instructions, avoid contact with others, and keep ourselves clean and healthy. There is a time to act and help other people by sharing our blessings in whatever way we can. There is a time to rest, reflect, and pray. There is a time to try to enjoy despite the situation. There should be a balance.
It is probably especially important during this pandemic to remember this. There is a time for everything. A time to worry and be paranoid enough that it leads us to follow instructions, avoid contact with others, and keep ourselves clean and healthy. There is a time to act and help other people by sharing our blessings in whatever way we can. There is a time to rest, reflect, and pray. There is a time to try to enjoy despite the situation. There should be a balance.
Do I believe in God’s timing and his perfect plan? Do respect his timing, his plans, and his wisdom? Do I make the most of my time, or do i just focus on what I want and not make time for God?
May we remember how important it is to know the proper time for everything, and trust in God’s perfect timing.
Father God,
Thank you for today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for not giving you the time you deserve. Sorry for just doing and wanting things for myself. Sorry for not trusting in you. I ask that you give me the knowledge to know the right time for doing things. Always remind me that there is a time for everything. Remind me that I should have a balanced life. I know you hold everything at the palm of your hand, and I just trust in your great plans for me. May I always strive to have a balanced life for you. May I never forget you amidst the busyness of life. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
Daily Readings
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 382
Reading 1
Thus says the LORD:
On that day I will raise up
the fallen hut of David;
I will wall up its breaches,
raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
That they may conquer what is left of Edom
and all the nations that shall bear my name,
say I, the LORD, who will do this.
Yes, days are coming,
says the LORD,
When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
and the vintager, him who sows the seed;
The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains,
and all the hills shall run with it.
I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel;
they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities,
Plant vineyards and drink the wine,
set out gardens and eat the fruits.
I will plant them upon their own ground;
never again shall they be plucked
From the land I have given them,
say I, the LORD, your God.
On that day I will raise up
the fallen hut of David;
I will wall up its breaches,
raise up its ruins,
and rebuild it as in the days of old,
That they may conquer what is left of Edom
and all the nations that shall bear my name,
say I, the LORD, who will do this.
Yes, days are coming,
says the LORD,
When the plowman shall overtake the reaper,
and the vintager, him who sows the seed;
The juice of grapes shall drip down the mountains,
and all the hills shall run with it.
I will bring about the restoration of my people Israel;
they shall rebuild and inhabit their ruined cities,
Plant vineyards and drink the wine,
set out gardens and eat the fruits.
I will plant them upon their own ground;
never again shall they be plucked
From the land I have given them,
say I, the LORD, your God.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 9b) The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.
R. The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.
No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,
for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.
People do not put new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.
Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.
No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth,
for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse.
People do not put new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined.
Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”
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