Lay Life in a Year

52 Reflections on JPII's vision for the Laity

Read the Reflections
Get the Reflections

Week 4: Why Do You Stand Here Idle?

“Why do you stand here idle all day?” (Mt. 20:6)

The world needs you. The Church needs you. Christ is calling you. So why do you stand here idle?

Is it because the brokenness of the world feels too overwhelming? Is it because it is easier to spend life doing things we pretend are important rather than face the immensity of our real call? Is it because deep down we are afraid that we are too weak and will fail?

You’re the only one who knows what tempts you to be idle. But the reason doesn’t really matter. Regardless of why, Jesus Christ is looking you in the eyes and telling you to give up a life on the sideline and join Him.

The world is suffering; too many hearts are shattering for you to sit idly by when you have so much to give.

The world needs you. The Church needs you. Christ is calling you. Do you trust Him enough to go?

Lay Life in a Year Overview

  • Read the original: Introduction, No. 3

  • Last week: Real Holiness

  • This week: Why Do You Stand Here Idle?

  • Next week: The Urgent Issue Of Secularism In The World 

Read More Reflections

Week 32: We are the last line…of space heaters?

Sep 6, 2024

Last winter, I set up space heaters in the basement. I go down there every so often and it is just so cold. I was determined to heat up the space. Successfully, with 5 space heaters plugged in, I looked around, content with my work...until the breaker tripped and I...

read more

Week 31: Polly Pocket Cruise Ship

Sep 1, 2024

When my wife was a kid, there was one year when the only thing she wanted for her birthday was a Polly Pocket cruise ship toy. I recently learned this was the single greatest present any 8 year old girl could get circa 2008. Well, a few weeks later a family friend...

read more

Week 30 : Maybe the Church is just like everything else?

Aug 25, 2024

Early in my conversion I was afraid to go to Mass. I was scared I would feel isolated.  But when I learned about the Church as the Body of Christ I realized that Catholic community was completely different from the world’s idea of community.  So I got up the courage,...

read more

Sign Up for the Weekly Reflection

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.