Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Pursued by Truth

Home
Catholic
New Year’s Resolution: Sanctify Your Time

New Year’s Resolution: Sanctify Your Time

Last updated on: January 4, 2013 at 8:59 am by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

New Year’s Resolution: Sanctify Your Time 2013-01-04T08:59:00-04:00 Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The concept of sanctification of time is nothing new, and it is an idea that is found not only in Christianity but also within other religions.

In the Jewish faith it is an important concept. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said, “Judaism is a religion of time, aiming at the sanctification of time.”

For Christians, the sanctification of time takes on a new meaning because we believe God not only created time, but also entered time. In a General Audience in 1997, Blessed John Paul II said that “with Jesus eternity has entered time.”

A common understanding of sanctifying time is to set apart time in our day for God. For Christians, particularly because God entered time, we believe it is possible to give our time in a radical way to God.

Unfortunately, most Christians have a very limited idea of sanctified time. An hour or two on Sunday is usually the most we feel we need to give to God. Conveniences have multiplied so we have more “free time,” but we quickly fill it up with more conveniences, entertainment, work and technologies. As a result, we give less and less time to God.

We are a culture of “no time.”

When I first entered the convent, one of the sisters shared with me her philosophy on time: “I do not consider my time to be my own any more. My time belongs to God.”

Theoretically, this is a pleasant enough concept. Put into practice, this is not for the faint of heart.

To live from the notion that our time belongs to God is to not only set aside time for prayer, but to consider all of our time as belonging to Him.

What does this mean practically?

1. Live in Conversation with God

We do not have to spend 24 hours a day in a church to give our time to God. Instead, He simply asks that we constantly refocus our attention on Him, in even the smallest details of our life. God is interested! We do not have to be scrupulous; God rarely gives clear signs for every move we are to make. But simply acknowledging His presence allows us to act with Him, rather than on our own. As Brother Lawrence wrote in his classic, The Practice of the Presence of God: “I make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence, wherein I keep myself by a simple attention, and a general fond regard to God, which I may call an actual presence of God; or, to speak better, a habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with God.”

2. Frequent the Sacraments

It is the sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in our soul. Sanctifying grace is like the glue between us and God. The more we take advantage of the great gift of the sacraments, the more we are united with God dwelling within us through our baptism. The more united we are to God, the more God can work through us, sanctifying all we do and say.

3. Accept Unscheduled Surprises with Joy

This is perhaps the most difficult for me as I like to organize my time and I do not like surprises. But, as my superior often reminds me, it is Jesus who acts through the unscheduled moments in our lives. When we are asked to help with something, or we have to do something unexpected, it is often Jesus who is asking us to set aside our plans and ideas and follow His plan for the day.

4. Get in Touch with the Timeless

The Book of Ecclesiastes has a beautiful verse about time: “[God] has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts” (Eccl 3:11). We are creatures bound to time, and often we forge extra manacles of schedule to bind us. But God has made us with a thirst for eternity. This is one of the most important things that separates humans from the rest of the animal world. We understand forever. If we live with our eyes on forever, with our hearts connected to God, who is outside of time, but inside of our souls through baptism, we can live a life that is not a slave to time.

_ _ _ _

My prayers are with you in the New Year. May we all grow closer to God, until all of our time is lived in union with Him. Please pray for this intention for me as well!

Please feel free to comment with ideas for how to sanctify our time in the New Year…

Uncategorized

Previous Post

December 27, 2012

The Hobbit Hobbles: An Unexpected Journey Reviewed

Next Post

January 11, 2013 Being a Saint in Bite-Sized Pieces

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Art Atheism Book Reviews Christmas Church Issues Discernment Easter Ecumenism Entertainment Environment Eucharist Evangelization Family Freebies Guest Post Holy Spirit Inspire Me Interreligious Dialogue Jesus Lectio Divina Lent Life Issues Liturgical Season Mary Media MISC Movie Reviews Pauline Pope Francis Prayer Prayer Intention Religious Life Saints Sanctity Scripture Social Justice Social Teaching St. Paul Theology of the Body Uncategorized US News Vocations World News Writing Year of Mercy

Select a Month September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Nehemiah was a cupbearer to King Nebuchadnezzar.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE