Avoid Being a Last-Minute Christian

When I was a child I had a number of chores that I was expected to do after school before my parents got home. The short list was laid out clearly for me on a little sheet stuck to the refrigerator. Feed the cats. Bring in the garbage. Do the dishes. Vacuum the rug. And like the good, dutiful child I was I also did my chores immediately upon returning home in a calm and detailed manner.

And by "calm and detailed" I mean "rushed and half-hearted."

And by "immediately" I mean "ten minutes before I heard the garage door opening."

I wish I could say that those days are behind me and that as an organized, responsible, working mother in her thirties I never slack on what's expected of me. I really wish I could say that.

I once had a coworker tell me she was glad she wasn't Catholic so she didn't have to do all that sacrificing during Lent because she did just fine avoiding sin without the extra work. I wish I could say that too, but the truth of the matter is that there's still a part of me that treats the world and my responsibilities the way I treated my chores when I was ten.

I know what's expected of me and yet here I sit avoiding what I know I need to do, avoiding what's good for me, and avoiding what I know God expects of me. The Gospel today tells this same story, unexpected days and hours when the Master comes, but knowing what he'll expect when he arrives. (Luke 12:46, 48) A lot of us go about our lives like this, thinking we know when God's going to pull into the driveway, and thinking as long as we've caught up on our to-do list by then we'll be fine.

But God calls us to so much more than the half-hearted attempts of last-minute Christians.

Today take a moment to reflect on the responsibilities God has given you. Are you making a good attempt to do what's expected of you or are you hoping to put things off a little longer, certain you'll know when the time comes and be prepared? Are you putting off virtues and Confession and other Sacraments assuming you'll have plenty of time to catch up later? What can you do today, this very hour from being a last-minute Christian?

God calls us to so much more than the half-hearted attempts of last-minute Christians.Click to tweet

Let's be 100% Christians, all the time. Make the decision today, sisters.

Molly Walter is a Catholic convert, wife and mother to two children on Earth and four babies called home to Jesus. She has a deep love of her faith, her family, literature, handcrafts, gardening, and Star Wars. When not working full time outside the home or wrangling her next family adventure, she blogs about all the good things in life. You can find out more about her here.