Wasting Time Productively

Last week, I read an article by the New York Times journalist in Sydney In which he was reflecting upon an afternoon walk along the beaches of Sydney.  His point was that we live in a world centred on busyness and achievement.  Whatever happened to just living life for the sake of life itself?  Why do we need a reason to live the day?  This theme arose for him during a pandemic when he was forced to stop and wait awhile.   

Here he was in a Sydney lockdown, an enforced time which may make anyone stop and think upon the deeper questions of life.  The 19th century American writer, Thoreau, reflected how so many just waste life.  His great line was something like - we need to suck out the marrow of life.  Powerful!

Here we are in lockdown in Bangkok.  After three months, masses continue online from a rarified atmosphere.  If we are still watching Sunday mass on YouTube, that says something about who we are and what we believe.  Is it not time to start asking some of the deeper questions about who we are as church?  

So as we gather as church online every Sunday: 

Does it matter to you that you cannot receive the eucharist sacramentally at this time?  

Does the experience of doing without the normal routine of life make you appreciate more fully who we are?  

What keeps you going as who you are?  

What nourishes your spirit? 

As we social distance, what do you miss and not miss, and what does that say?  

What is this experience of online mass like?  

God is real.  This is more than words.  What does it mean?  

Eucharist is about much more than receiving communion.  It has to be or else why keep watching mass online?  Mass focuses upon sharing our story and remembering Jesus, the Lord.  Without story and memory, we are empty vessels.  So questions are worth asking and pondering.  Taking time to reflect upon the mystery of life is essential.  

Let us happily waste time productively.  Let us be church to the full.