Hear from the ministers of the region — via the Greater Shepparton Combined Churches — in our new monthly series, Church in our Community.
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No matter what our vocation is in life we can be so busy that we go from one thing to the next.
In the past 48 hours, at the time of writing this article for instance, I had celebrated two Masses and eight Baptisms at St Brendan’s and joined parishioners for lunch.
I then travelled to Melbourne for a radio program on Radio Sport National and undertook some pastoral work, as well as visited family and friends.
Picturesque: Carmelite Monastery.
As I journeyed between the eastern and western suburbs of Melbourne, there was one hour though where I simply wasted time with God.
Nestled amidst the hills and houses of Kew, with city skyscrapers in the horizon is the Carmelite Monastery.
The monastery has been home to a group of contemplative nuns since its foundation in 1922.
The Sisters live a life of prayer and undertake charitable works within the monastery.
The monastery is peacefully quiet as one enters its gates to be greeted by spectacular gardens exhibiting God’s creation. This promotes a sense of awe and wonder as one journeys inside the chapel for prayer and contemplation.
For the past 100 years the sisters have modelled the importance of wasting time with God.
Christian churches across the Goulburn Valley are now celebrating the season of Lent, which provides an invitation to us to waste time with God.
During my recent visit to the Carmelite Monastery, I was reminded of the importance of wasting time with God and the account of Jesus’ Transfiguration in the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus leads Peter, James and his brother, John, up a high mountain. Peter says to Jesus: “It is good for us to be here” (Mt 17:4).
The season of Lent, which takes place for 40 days leading up to Easter, reminds us of the need to waste time with God. To savour each moment in our lives where God is present to us. To give thanks for each breath God gives us so as to keep us in being on this earth and in relationship with each other in anticipation of eternal life.
The call is to see God more clearly, so that we can love him more dearly and follow him more nearly.
Through this season of Lent, the disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving can help us with this goal. Jesus offers these to us in the Gospel of Matthew (6:1-18).
Firstly, prayer encourages us to waste time with God. This can be done in a variety of ways. Whether it be through joining our local Christian community in worship, reading the Bible at home, listening to praise and worship music or meditating God’s presence in our lives.
Secondly, fasting provides us with a discipline to stay close to and trust in God. We can fast from many things. Many think about fasting in terms of food. This is important. However, it can involve many other things. For instance, we can fast from gossiping, worrying, arguing and so on.
Thirdly, almsgiving inspires us to reach out to others so that we can show God’s love to them. We can do this through works of charity, reaching out to the sick or the lonely, offering hospitality to family and friends. The list is endless.
What’s one thing we can do today to waste time with God and show God’s love to others?
Fr Jackson Saunders is the assistant priest at the Catholic Parishes of St Brendan’s, Shepparton, and St Mary’s, Dookie.
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