Episode 2951: Time Belongs to God - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”

Time Belongs to God: Living in His Presence”
Tonight we seek to deepen our faith by embracing the wisdom of the Church and the lives of the saints.
Tonight, we reflect on the sacredness of time and our call to remain always with Christ. In a world that treats time as a commodity, we must remember that time is a gift from God, meant not just for productivity, but for sanctification.

Bl. John of Fiesole, better known as Fra Angelico, reminds us:

“He who does Christ’s work must stay with Christ always.”

And Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen reflects on the true value of time, writing:
“We value time; our world values time. ‘Time is money,’ the saying goes. Time is indeed valuable—not because it’s scarce or fleeting, but because it was created by God and belongs to Him. ‘[T]ime does not exist primarily to produce,’ writes Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen, ‘but to open ourselves to God’s eternity…’”

Tonight, we will consider how we can use time as God intends—not merely for work and worldly concerns, but to remain in His presence and prepare for eternity.

Staying with Christ Always

Bl. John of Fiesole’s words challenge us:
“He who does Christ’s work must stay with Christ always.”

But how often do we become so absorbed in our tasks, worries, and ambitions that we lose sight of Him?
Even when we work for the good our families, our vocations, even apostolic efforts we risk forgetting the presence of God. But Christ does not call us only to work for Him; He calls us to be with Him.

The saints understood this well. They labored, but always with their eyes fixed on eternity. St. Benedict’s rule taught: Ora et labora—prayer and work. Not work first, then prayer—but both in harmony.
Thus, our goal is not to remove ourselves from daily responsibilities, but to transform our time so that Christ is always at the center.

The World’s View of Time vs. God’s View

Society tells us that time is money, that every moment must be productive. We rush through life, fearing wasted time. But what if time is not meant primarily for production, but for sanctification?

Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen beautifully explains:

“Time does not exist primarily to produce, but to open ourselves to God’s eternity.”

This is a profound truth. Time is not just a fleeting resource to be maximized; it is a path to God, preparing us for eternity.
When we treat time as merely a tool for productivity, we fall into one of two errors:

1. We become enslaved to busyness—constantly striving, yet never at peace.
2. We waste time in idleness, treating it as a playground for distractions rather than a gift from God.

The proper balance is to use time as God intends:
• To seek Him in prayer throughout our day.
• To serve others with love, not just efficiency.
• To sanctify our work by offering it to Christ.
• To rest in Him, knowing that our time ultimately belongs to Him, not to us.

When we live this way, time ceases to be a burden. Instead, every moment whether in labor or in rest becomes a step toward eternity.

Practical Ways to Sanctify Our Time

How do we remain with Christ always? How do we transform our daily lives so that we are not merely “doing,” but abiding in Him?

Here are a few ways to sanctify our time:

1. Begin and end each day with prayer – Offer your morning to God, and at night, reflect on how you have spent your time.
2. Sanctify your work – Whether manual labor or intellectual pursuits, offer everything to Christ before you begin.
3. Take small moments throughout the day to turn to God – A simple aspiration like “Jesus, I trust in You” keeps us anchored in Him.
4. Be present – Time is not just about accomplishing tasks; it is about being with Christ and with others. When you speak to someone, be fully there.
5. Keep the Lord’s Day holy – Sunday is not just a break from work but a foretaste of eternity.

By doing these things, we will slowly learn to see time not as a possession, but as a sacred trust—an opportunity to grow in love for God.

Conclusion: Time as a Gift for Eternity
Time is not an enemy to be conquered but a gift to be sanctified. The more we remain with Christ in every moment, the more we will see time not as something fleeting, but as a bridge to eternity.
Let us ask ourselves:
• Do we view time as a burden or as a gift from God?
• Are we remaining with Christ always, or only when it is convenient?
• Do we waste time on distractions, or do we use it to grow in holiness?

The time we have now is given to us to prepare for eternity. Let us not squander it but offer every moment to God.

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You are the Lord of time and eternity. Every moment of our lives is a gift from Your hands. Help us to remain always in Your presence, to sanctify our work, our rest, and our relationships by offering them to You.
Through the intercession of Our Lady, guide us to use our time well, so that one day, we may enter the fullness of Your eternal kingdom.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Thank you for joining us tonight. May the peace of Christ remain with you always. Good night.