Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men” (Luke 9:44). With these words, Jesus draws the attention of his followers away from their amazement at his miraculous deeds and points them toward the central purpose of his mission: his approaching suffering, death, and resurrection.
Jesus’ words are addressed to us just as much as to his first disciples: “Pay attention,” “Take note,” “Listen carefully.” How many times have we heard those phrases in our lives, and how often have we actually heeded them? Distraction is a very human condition, often serving as a way to avoid suffering or uncomfortable truths. We are easily drawn away from the essential things in our lives by the glitter that captures our immediate attention. For example, we might tell ourselves, “I have an exam to prepare for tomorrow… but I just have to check the score of that football game.” A quick glance at the progress of our favorite team turns into an hour lost in the excitement of the game, taking precious time away from our test preparation.
This same tendency can carry over into our spiritual lives. We try to remain faithful to a regular prayer schedule, but something suddenly arises at the last moment that feels far more urgent. Giving in to an exception can quickly become a habit that is difficult to uproot. It causes us to feel disconnected from God, and we think that we need to begin a desperate search for Him.
But the truth is that God is already present to us. We simply have to turn our attention to him. As Fr. Jacques Philippe beautifully wrote: “God is there long before we put ourselves in his presence. It is he who invites us to come and meet him—he, our Father, who is waiting for us and who seeks to enter into communion with us” (Time for God, p. 10).
Where is the focus of our attention today? Is it truly on the Lord and his Word? Are our hearts and minds centered on the spiritual priorities that matter, and on the service we owe to God and to our brothers and sisters?
When we realize that our focus is drifting away from God, we can turn back to Him and pray: “Jesus, teach us to number our days aright, to pay attention to your word, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” (cf. Ps 90:12).
Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections