Ordinary Time

Pause

Today is a busy day. It is full of things that must get done and people that must be seen. With the help of God, I can be peace in every encounter. With the help of God I can be a holy presence in every conversation.  With the help of God I can place the thumbprint of the divine on every assignment. With God’s help I will be the best version of myself today.

Offer space in a busy day for the God who has already gone before you into it, and trust in the help that will come.

Listen

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:1-4

Think

One of the lines that I commonly use when serving communion is, “at this table we are reminded that we belong to Christ and to one another.”  When performing a wedding, I like to remind the bride, groom, and everyone assembled that through Christ we are now responsible for each other’s needs. I usually say something like, “I am hungry until you have eaten, and you are thirsty until I have had something to drink.”  In the community of believers we are so truly connected that my needs are not met until yours are, and your needs are not met until mine are.

This seems to be exactly what Paul wants us to understand in the scripture reading from Philippians. He wants us to follow the example of Christ and defy our natural urge for self satisfaction so that the needs and interests of others are met before our own. One of the most powerful witnesses of Christ’s love that we can provide to the world is sacrificing our own self-interest for the interest of others.  This behavior is so contrary to the values of our culture that even the most cynical nonbeliever takes notice.

Lucas Dorion

Pray

Generous God, make us generous followers of your son Jesus Christ. Cause us to give of ourselves, and of our time, and even give up that which we want in the interest of those whom you love. Open our eyes and hearts so that we might see and feel the needs of others as our own. Amen.

Go

Go now into the world confident that you are not alone, and at peace knowing that God will be with you wherever you find yourself this day.