As we know, procrastinating because we don’t wish to make a decision is, in actual fact, a decision. Similarly, as Jesus insisted, whoever is not for him is against him—there can be no neutral position in relation to Christ. And in today’s gospel Jesus explains that if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him. Instead, he says, the word that I spoke, will condemn him. Now, although not observing Christ’s words can be an outright rejection of him, for us it is more likely to involve procrastinating and putting off a more radical and total conversion. And so, day after day we do hear his words, but our hearts—though not hardened—are still not completely open and so we do not promptly answer to his knock. Procrastination may sound innocuous, yet it risks spiritual stagnation that, in turn, threatens faith in, and love of, Christ. The Holy Abbots of Cluny were holy precisely because they didn’t procrastinate, but having laid their hands to the plough, they never looked back. Let us invoke their intercession, therefore, and while there is still time, while we are in this body and have time to accomplish all these things by the light of life—let us run and do what will profit us forever—to quote their (and our) Father Saint Benedict.