From the Pastor's Desk

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

My mother used to say, “If the devil cannot make you bad, he will make you busy.” I have often thought about how true those words are. Sometimes our greatest spiritual danger is not doing something wrong, but becoming so busy with work, family, responsibilities, appointments, messages, and even good activities that we slowly leave very little room for God.

Being busy is not the problem. Jesus Himself was busy. He taught, healed, prayed, and cared for people. The problem begins when busyness takes away our sense of what is most important. We can be busy doing many good things and still neglect the One who gives meaning and direction to everything else.

That is why prayer is not a waste of time. Prayer is time given back to God, and in prayer God gives us back ourselves. When we become quiet before Him, we see our lives more clearly. We begin to distinguish between what is urgent and what is truly important. We remember that we are not simply people who have things to accomplish; we are children of God called to live in His presence and love.

The Church gives us beautiful ways to remain close to God: prayer, Sacred Scripture, Sunday Mass, the Eucharist, Confession, and moments of silence before the Lord. These are not burdens added to an already busy life. They are the nourishment that helps us live that life well.

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves: Where does God fit into my daily schedule? Do I give Him my first moments, or only whatever time remains after everything else is finished? We do not need to abandon our responsibilities. We simply need to put first things first. A well-ordered Christian life is not a life without activity; it is a life in which activity flows from God.

Let us make a little more room for God: a few quiet minutes in the morning, a moment with Scripture during the day, a sincere prayer before bed, and faithful participation in Holy Mass. Small moments of prayer may seem insignificant, but they can gradually change the direction of our lives.

Life is too short to be busy with everything except God. Let us never become so occupied with living our lives that we forget the One who gave us life. When God has the first place in our hearts, everything else gradually finds its proper place.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when life becomes too busy, help me never to become too busy for You. Quiet my heart, order my priorities, and keep me close to You in all that I do. May I never forget the One who gave me life. Amen.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Babu Thelappilly