Have you ever noticed that couples who have recently fallen in love spend every possible minute together? Among the simplest ways to show love is to simply be with a person; to spend time with him or her.

Our model for prayer is Jesus, who prayed with his disciples and often went aside to pray by Himself. Listed on your Commitment Card are some suggestions for spending time with God in prayer.

Being a steward of time means making time for the things we love most. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” If we truly love the Lord, we will make time to be with Him in prayer. If we love our neighbor, we will find ways to help our community. If we love our parish, we will seek out opportunities to spend time with other parishioners.

During this year’s Renewal, under the category “Stewardship of Time,” we are primarily focusing on how we spend time in personal prayer and family prayer. Think about what you love most. If God and family are near the top of the list, resolve to make prayer — the lifeblood of Christian life — a part of your own daily life and the life of your family.