I could use this space to rant and rave about folks who won't turn off their cell phones at Mass... but I won't!
The image above is interesting. It's unfortunate that we usually need to see Jesus in period dress before recognizing him. (I wonder what Mr. Thoreau would have to say about that?) Nevertheless, the image above does get the imagination in gear.
Folks with cell phones tend to keep them closer to hand than their wallets or purses. Only a few years ago we'd go hours or even a whole day without using a phone or wondering who might be trying to reach us. Nowadays, we act as if we're always just a ring away from a phone call of life and death importance. And since we get to listen in on one side of many cell phone conversations, we know that most of them weren't worth the cost of the call.
We stand ever ready to answer someone's call... Have we the same attentiveness to the Caller imaged above this post? Do we expect him to "call?" Do we believe he knows our number? Most folks have him on speed dial for emergencies: how many of us check caller ID and screen him out if we're not in the mood to take his call? There's not a moment of any day or night when he's not trying to get in touch with us... how willing are we to let him interrupt our day? our plans? our schedule? When he does get through to us, do we let call waiting cut into our conversation? Do we put him on hold to take other calls? Or maybe some of us have simply forgotten his number...
Lent is a good time to save the Lord's number on my phone... a time to listen for his calls... a time to make sure I call him at least once a day: just to say hello; just to tell him how my day is going; just to see what he wants of me and what he has to offer me...
Imagine turning to a friend and saying, "Sorry - I have to take this call: it's Someone important!"
Then next time you look for your cell phone, check your cell phone, answer your cell phone, make a call on your cell phone --- just remember who has your number!
-ConcordPastor
Good post! I wonder how many years it will take for us to use our cell phones in a saner way? I know that years and years and years ago .... if the telephone (read: land line phone) rang everyone in the family got excited and waited with barely held excitement to see who was calling. Those days sure are gone!
ReplyDeleteI am afraid, though, that there will always be something to tempt our attention away from what is truly important.
I like your advise: "Just remember who has your number!"
Excellent blog entry, Concord Pastor! While all entries have been great, this one, in my humble opinion, is the BEST EVER. Great image, too!
ReplyDeleteSoutenus,
ReplyDeleteI had to find out what your moniker means. It sounded a little like "sustain" and a lot like "soutane". Come to find out, it is closer to the former - rather a nice name, "sustain", "support".
Are you by any chance the Catholic Notebook contributor by the same handle?