Then [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.

“Today I don’t feel like doing anything, I just wanna lay in my bed. Don’t feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone, ’cause today I swear I’m not doing anything. Yes, I said it; I said it ‘cause I can. I ain’t gonna comb my hair, ’cause I ain’t going anywhere. Nothing at all.”

If we consider being lazy as simply refusing to do anything, it is most probably wrong because it will lead a person nowhere in life. But being lazy in the form of wasting time can actually be considered to be something good. If we look at wasting time as doing nothing, but with a good reason in mind, perhaps it is not so bad. It may even lead to something worthwhile as we live our busy lives.

People might consider Jesus’ time in prayer to be wasting time. He did nothing except be alone with his Father. But for Jesus, the times of prayer with his Father were life-giving moments, moments without which his ministry would flounder and lose focus. Likewise with anyone who believes that there is some Higher Being in charge of life. There must be time to commune with such a Being, time during which a person will do nothing but “waste time” so that thinking with such a Being is possible. It is the very definition of the spiritual life.

Although Bruno Mars’ song fits the dictionary definition of laziness, that of “being unwilling to work, unwilling to make an effort,” it does not rule out the possibility of looking at wasting time with profit. Besides the opportunity to commune with our God, there are also times in our lives after some intense activity, for example, when we must literally sit back and do nothing, just to relax, and allow the brain and muscles to rest a little. A person interested in pursuing leadership must do nothing at times in order to think about what leadership might mean in his/her particular life. One of the traits of a good marriage is that the husband and wife will enjoy each other’s company even though they are not doing anything in particular. Being a friend with another often means nothing more than being able to “hang out” with each other while doing nothing.

Perhaps the idea of laziness can be defined not only as being unwilling to extend an effort. Perhaps a better definition might include a good part of laziness which is wasting time in order to renew ourselves to be better than we are.

Good and gracious God, your Son was often in prayer with you. He did nothing but spend time with you. Help us understand the concept of wasting time to be something positive, looking at it as a time when we can renew ourselves. Be with us, we pray.

Doing nothing or “being lazy” can be something worthwhile.

1. Project: Present part of the passage on prayer in Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, numbers 2558-2751.
2. Many people think of terms of prayer as merely “saying prayers,” something that defines “formal prayer.” In your mind, what would be the definition of informal prayer.
3. In your opinion, what is the principal characteristic of a “good prayer.”
4. What are the principal problems connected with laziness? Why is it something that should be avoided?
5. In your opinion, are most people “lazy” in one way or another? Yes or no and why?
6. If a friend of yours is too lazy, what is the best way to motivate him/her?
7. In what area do you see most people show laziness in their lives?
8. What is your understanding of the term “spiritual life”? See Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, number 131.
9. In your opinion, how would you describe the opposite of laziness?
10. The meditation mentions physical exercise. In your opinion, do the people of your locale get enough physical exercise? Why or why not?
11. The meditation mentions leadership activities. What activities in particular are helped by people spending more time thinking about them?
12. The meditation mentions marriage. Why is it such a good idea for a married couple to be able to spend time with each other without doing anything in particular?
13. The meditation mentions friendship. Why is it a good thing for friends to be able to just “hang out” together?
14. What does the song “The Lazy Song” teach young people?