In the first reading it’s said that God says to us, “In an acceptable time I have heard you; on a day of salvation I have helped you.” Then says that “Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!” This reading puts me in mind of Roc O’Connor’s song “Seek the Lord.” It says, “Today is the day and now the proper hour to forsake our sinful lives and turn to the Lord.”
God says at the acceptable time he has heard us, and now is that acceptable time. And it’s always now. God is always there to hear our prayers and our calls, and now, if we are in need, He hears us. And if we sing His praises now, as we always should, he hears us now as well.
God says on the day of salvation he has helped us, and now is the day of salvation. If we need his help now he helps us now. Today is the day. And it’s always today.
Too many people hold on to the past and think about how they could have done things differently, or what things they could change if they could do it over. Too many people worry about what might happen in the future and how they might deal with certain situations should they occur. But the only time we can act is now. But it’s always now. It’s now right now.
Now is when God hears our prayers, and now is when God helps us and sends us salvation. And now is when we should put the past behind us and forsake our sinful lives. Now is when we should accept God’s help and salvation and turn to the Lord. And now is when we should sing God’s praises. Now is the time to sing joyfully. Do it now.
Tamora Whitney
I teach in the English department. I teach composition and literature and Critical Issues -- a class that has a component on Jesuit values.
I like writing these reflections because it makes me think more deeply about the scripture and think about how to integrate the ideas into my own life and how to share these ideas with others.
