Right Now

Fifth Sunday of Easter; John 13:31-33, 34-35

I give you a new commandment: Love one another.

As a well-seasoned procrastinator, I can get rather amused at those who want everything done right this instant. It is not uncommon for task request to be made in our house, and I will readily agree to accomplish said task. However, before I can even begin contemplating how to go about the task, she has finished the task and is on to the next one. That is very frustrating. When I say I’ll do something, I will do it. I don’t need to be reminded about it every six months!

The Gospels tell us that Jesus is very clear about what needs to be done. We are to love one another. I must admit that it would have been nice if he had given clearer instructions as to when we were to begin working on this task. But in the absence of a set deadline, I am forced to conclude that Jesus wants me to begin, like, now.

I sit back and look around me and, yes, it is time to get started on loving.  With all the headlines in the news and blather on social media, it does not take much to realize that this world in in need of a lot more love. Right now. War, poverty, racism, intolerance, hunger, abuse, and anger are in far greater supply than love and mercy.

The thing is, I do not know when I will be called to cross over to the life to come. It might be in 30 years, or it might be in 30 minutes. Recently a young man had a stroke on a Monday and died the following Sunday. He was otherwise healthy and active. It is shocking for his family to deal with, as you can well imagine. But it illustrates the point that none of us know when our time is up. I need to be ready to face my Maker at every moment.

I need to feel an urgency to prepare myself by being the best person I can be at all times. Listening to the message of the Gospel’s is one way to that. Jesus laid it out fairly clearly for me to follow. And so, follow him I must. At the same time, there are so many other sources of wisdom to learn from and so many wise people to emulate. I need to do a better job of watching and learning from them as well.

The words I use to speak to people about God’s love is important too. I have to remember to use positive images and to stress (gently) the urgency of feeling the presence of God in our souls. St. Paul travelled the world to allow people to hear about the saving power of God’s love. Saving from what? From worry and stress and fear. There will always be things to worry about, stress over and to be afraid of, but when I know that God loves me and that, no matter what happens to me, I will always be loved, then ii can release all those concerns.

God says, “Look! I am making everything new!” [Rev. 21:5] Everywhere I look I am seeing the saving power of God in creation, in structures, in people and in animals. Everything is new when seen through the eyes of God. That is the message I need to share with others, I cannot procrastinate. I must begin right now.

Every Day.

© 2025 by Timothy J. Doppel

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