There is a beautiful song written by Pete Seeger and sung by the Byrds in the early 50’s – To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose, under heaven. The lyrics of this song were taken from the Bible, TheBook of Ecclesiastes. And it says: there is a time for everything under the sun, a time to be born, a time to plant, a time to laugh… Time is very special, and it is a wonderful gift, we never have enough, we try to save time, to gain time, to buy time, to make up time and sometimes we can lose time and waste time.  It is very important to realise the value of time in our lives.  Jesus gives us a great example in the gospel today, he goes to the synagogue from there he goes to the house of Simon Peter and heals his mother-in-law.  He then faces a large crowd which had gathered at the door; and he begins to cure them one by one. Next day he gets up early and goes to a lonely place to pray. Peter and the apostles follow him, and they tell him that the people are looking for him.  But Jesus knows it is time to move on.  He has promises to keep, and miles to go, before he sleeps.  All throughout his life, he teaches us how to use our time well.  He travels, he teaches, he preaches, he suffers, but he also has time to rest, to sleep and to eat, and to spend some time with his friends.  Everything Jesus does, he does it well and makes very good use of his time. Jesus did not have a watch, maybe he would look at the sundial.  If he had a watch, it would tell a beautiful story.  He knew how long the day was, and when night would fall; he knew how far he had to go and how much time he had left.  He did not rush; for him one day at a time was his philosophy. We also face the challenge of time in our lives.  How often do we look at our watch, wondering where we have to be next?  Let us learn to read time the way Jesus read time; to see time as a gift, and a friend, someone who is working with us, and to be thankful for the time we have.  And especially for the people we have to share our time with.

I knelt to pray but not for long, I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work for bills would soon be due. So, I knelt and said a hurried prayer, and jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done, my soul could rest at ease. All day long I had no time to spread a word of cheer, no time to speak of Christ to friends; they’d laugh at me I’d fear. No time, no time, too much to do, that was my constant cry. No time to give to souls in need. But at last, the time, the time to die. I went before the Lord, I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in his hands God held a book; It was the book of life. God looked into his book and said ‘Your name I cannot find I once was going to write it down… But never found the time’!