A Powerful Reflection by A Penitent Blogger

Penitens observes what the Assumption means for us all. It's a lot more than we think. Here is his reflection. Time: we act as though we don't have enough of it. We live as though we had all the time in the world. How many of us scamper around doing this and that, all the while the truly important things remain undone? I know I've been in that position more than a few times. Somehow, those things on my plate that glitter appeared so much more urgent than they turned out to be. There were important chores around the house, the kid needed this or the wife needed that. There was the pile of books for the summer reading curriculum that remain hidden in the closet. Meanwhile, did my father get the hand he needed to put up the closets downstairs? Did we bring any canned goods to the food drive sponsered by our Church? Have I shared my time and talent with those on the margins?

In other words, did I make the opportunity to listen to God's small, still voice? Did I act when I heard him?

Penitens notes how Mary's time with her cousin Elizabeth teachs all of us the value of our time:

Life truly is short, as anyone who has thought about it (or had to think about it) will quickly attest.

Indeed, people often think back on some important moment earlier in their lives and say, “It seems like yesterday.” In that sense, when one looks back on one’s life – even one that may be statistically longer than the average human lifespan – it can seem very short indeed: even as short as three months.

Also, when one considers the great scope of history – the thousands of years of human history and the multitude of generations that have been born, died and turned to dust – the length of our life seems very short indeed: as short as three months.

How are we spending our three months?

When we face the eventual end of our time, and when we look back on how we spent it, will we be able to face the judgement of our conscience? Is our conscience even formed enough in the Truth to render an honest decision? For it is through our truth-formed conscience that we discern the will of the one who sent us. Thus, when we give an account of how we used the talents he gave us--how close we drew in relationship to him through loving as he loved us--our conscience bears the record and recites true.

Will we be able to stand it?

That's why Mary, once again, shows us the way to her son. She models for us how we ought to spend our time if we want to welcome him into our lives. She took three months to care for her pregnant cousin before she returned home. She offered her service to her relative in need. Even as her own miraculous pregnancy continued, she spent her self on her cousin's care. What stops us from doing the same?

What's important is to do the will of God in the context of our lives. God wants each of us to fulfill our part in his plan for the salvation of all. Whether that part is the ordinary service and devotion of a husband or wife toward his or her family, an CEOs commitment to a principled business plan in a worthy corporate interest, or a world leader contemplating the engagement of his nation's military, all of us have an essential role in which to perform. Everything we do matters.

With the time we have left, however much of that "three months" there is, let's follow Mary's lead. Let's serve those we're called to serve. If we follow his mother, it won't be long before we find him.