Planning for the Important Things

by David Lins  |  11/27/2022  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

A few months ago, I made all kinds of plans for late November and early December. A day trip to the pine trees. Thanksgiving plans bouncing between my mother’s house and my mother-in-law’s house. Selling my novels at the Our Lady’s Guild Christmas Bazaar next Friday and Saturday.

Oops. I ended up having invasive back surgery on Nov 15.

I had to scrap the pine trees. I had to let the grandparents know that I’ll be spending Thanksgiving recovering in bed. And I had to get other people to sell my books at the Bazaar if I haven’t recovered in time. (Please pick up a copy!) In fact – I wrote quite a few of these articles in advance of the surgery, so I hope I’m still around…

This weekend’s Gospel (Mt 24:37-44) says, “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” It goes on to say, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

It is wise to plan and not be unprepared for our earthly future, but we must remember it isn’t promised for us, or our loved ones. And it is infinitely more important to plan and prepare for our eternal future.

Advent is the perfect time to do this. It is a time when we can commit to being in church 5 minutes earlier than usual. We can make an extra visit to our Adoration Chapel (to the left of the altar). We can commit to reading the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. We can attend daily Mass. We can get to Confession at least twice. We can make an effort to get to Bible Study or Life Teen or whatever group is age appropriate. We can take a walk with God each day. The list is endless.

It is the motivation that is the problem. So let’s not wait to “feel like it.” Let’s make plans of eternal consequence and stick to them.

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