Seize the Day—Now

Carpe diem was one of the phrases you’d learn if you studied Latin in high school. It means “Seize the day.” For a high school student it seemed to offer a permit to act impulsively. Speaking as someone more than fifty years away from that time, it offers an inducement to act wisely—now. 

Moses is told by a voice from a burning bush that the God of his ancestors wanted him to go back down to Egypt, from which he had fled after murdering an  Egyptian. All Moses was given at this encounter was an obscure name for God,  and a proposed plan to rescue the Israelite slaves and lead them to a new land.  Not a very attractive offer for one peacefully tending sheep, but Moses seized the day, hearing the call to act—now. 

Jesus calls on his fellow Jews to seize the day by repenting. Life is short. People die tragically without deserving it. Look to your own life, he tells them. God has given you these days, so bear fruit—now. 

Paul calls on the Corinthian to seize the day. Not just our actions but even our desires can mislead us. So don’t be complacent, a word that means sedating your spirit by being overly pleased with yourself. Turn to God—now. 

Baptism lays a foundation, giving us the Spirit and the virtues of faith, hope,  and love. In a month we are going to renew our baptismal promises on Easter,  confirming our desire to seize the day, every day, as an opportunity to grow closer to God—now.

Consider/Discuss

• Have you “settled in” to being a Catholic? Have you become a “couch  Catholic,” not overly exerting yourself in living out of your faith? 
• This coming week brings us to Lent’s mid-point. Is anything happening on the conversion/turn-to-the-Lord front? 

Responding to the Word

Lord, teach us to number our days and realize how quickly life passes, days into weeks into months into years. Rouse our spirits and teach us how to work with your Spirit to make fruitful the gifts you have given to us for the good of others. Move us to act wisely.