How To Keep Going?
We here in British Columbia have just heard that our “lock down” has been extended to February 5th. This is a cause of everything from discouragement to despondency, perhaps even depression and anger for some … perhaps many. Others could be dealing with this fairly well.
This post will try to lay out some key and I hope simple ideas to help and assist you in getting through this and coming out the other end of the Pandemic and lockdowns with a positive outlook.
For that matter – what I am going to write here is something I hope will help you no matter what circumstance you find yourself in. My approach or plan applies to pre-COVID-19, in-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 times. Here I go:
The overall key is that we human beings need routine. What is important is that it is not mindless routine. In other words we think about it and review it from time to time.
Within our routine we need structure and discipline. I specify this because our routine can be messy and very unproductive. Our bad routine could very well be 3 or 4 hours in front of the TV or computer screen.
I will be general at first and then perhaps with the next blog or blogs get more specific. We need what I would call a “Plan of Life” or “Regiment” or “My Plan for the Day.” Call it what you will but I hope you get my point.
The plan of life should give us a framework from the time we get up till the time we go to bed. It is not meant to “box us in” or confine us. These points that make up our plan and can help us through all times.
I will lay out here some points. You may not agree with all of them; you may not want to do all of them. No problem. My only suggestion is that you make your own Plan and strive to follow it — diligently, faithfully.
Find a regular time to go to bed and then to get up. The average person needs 6 to 8 hours of sleep. If you cheat on this, you are going to pay for it and others around you will pay (negatively) as well. Don’t mess with your body and soul in this way.
When you get up make a morning offering. I will devote more to these points in later blogs but essentially it is a prayer to begin the day with God. Thank him for the fact that you are alive and ask him to help you offer your entire day to his honor and glory.
Other points sprinkled throughout the day include prayer (meditation) for 15 minutes. Yes, you can do it.
Read the New Testament 3 minutes a day. Start at Matthew and just continue. That is 18.5 hours a year.
Pray the Angelus at Noon.
Think of Jesus in the Tabernacle at 3pm: Jesus, thank you for being there. I love you!
Try – if you can – to pray the Rosary (even one decade to get the devotion started).
Begin a plan of spiritual reading. This has made saints so why not you! 10 minutes a day. This will feed your mind, nourish your soul inflame your heart. I can recommend books to people.
Try to spend time with family or even zoom with friends (Google Meets) rather than watching too much TV or the computer.
Bedtime – really strive to be regular! Before getting into the bed try these three simple things:
a) blessing yourself with holy water;
b) 3 Hail Mary’s for holy purity;
c) brief examination of conscience. I will expand on this later but essentially it revolves around these question: i) what did I do wrong; ii) what did I do write; iii) what specific thing – 1 thing – can I do to improve tomorrow.
I hope that this is not overwhelming. You don’t have to do all of it but to focus on the overall idea: you and I need a healthy routine that is structured.
Remember – God loves you!
Fr Hamilton
A New Year Upon Us: Closer to Heaven!
There is a lot of “natural stuff” coming at people as they begin this New Year. One of these “natural things” are the COVID updates that occur regularly.
There are the regular reports about the effects of the pandemic on the economy, family life and our personal lives.
We cannot ignore these things – or we shouldn’t ignore them. We need to pay attention to what is going on around us and also what going on inside of us — i.e., in our mind and heart.
This post is going to give some different input. While all this other “stuff” is coming at us and we are trying to process it we also need something to help us either make some sense of it or give us strength to put it into perspective. This is why I have titled this post: A New Year Is Upon Us: Closer to Heaven!
Yes, we are entering a New Year. It is important that we Christians remember that Jesus is Lord of 2021. Every year when we celebrate the Easter Vigil we put for numbers on the Paschal Candle in what is called the Ceremony of Light. We proclaim that:
“Christ yesterday and today;
the Beginning and the End;
the Alpha; and the Omega;
All time belongs to him;
and all the ages;
To him be glory and power;
through every aga and fore ever. Amen.
This Easter Vigil we will put the numbers 2021 to proclaim that Jesus is Lord of every year, of all time!
It is very easy to forget this, so we need to remind ourselves of this foundational truth in our lives.
Further to this truth is that each day we arise from our beds and years year comes upon us is a day and a year that are closer to eternal life and let us pray that means heaven for us.
I’m sure this is not your typical “news item” that you’ll read at this time of the year but it is – I believe – very important for us to read it, hear it and let it penetrate into our hearts, our minds and our very souls.
This truth – that Jesus is Lord of all time (of 2021) will give us courage and serenity to live one day at a time knowing full well we are stepping closer to eternity.
If we live with this awareness we should deepen in serenity, with deeper confidence and resolve to wake up every day and do our very best to please God in whatever we do.
Every day we awaken God has already prepared new graces for you and me – God has had these ready from all eternity because he knows what we are going to face as we live today in this New Year and as we step closer to eternity.
God who is faithful will not shortchange us. God will provide the grace that we need to keep humble if we are doing really well; God will provide grace that we need if life seems like it is tanking on us and we are walking through the “dark valley.”
Whatever happens to you and me throughout this year – and things will happen – it is so important that we remember Jesus is Lord is 2021.
I want to encourage everyone to begin their day with a morning offering – offer your day to God. Thank him for waking up because that means God wants you in this world to do “his work.” Ask him – in your own words” to help you remember that you, with each step you take, approach eternity so you want to “walk well.”
Each day is so precious because it is our day, my day, your day and Jesus is Lord of it.
So walk well
Live well
Pray well
Forgive if you need to do it well
If you really strive to love God well then you will love others around, you even better
Let us ask St Joseph to help us live this year as best as we can, trusting in the Father to help us take our steps with confidence as we approach him.
Have a blessed New Year of 2021!
Corpus Christi Pastor's Blog 