Ordinary Time

Pause

We scramble through many of our days, hopeful that things will turn out well, and sometimes fearful that we may come up short. Will our resources be equal to each day’s demands?

As followers of Christ, we want to be faithful—and capable—in the face of life’s challenges.

We should know that there is enough grace, enough mercy, enough love—and enough time, just now—to meet the day.

Listen

When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”

Matthew 14:15–17

Think

The disciples are tired. It’s been a long day and they are ready for rest. So, they make a not-so-unreasonable request of Jesus: “Tell these folks its time to go find dinner.” But Jesus has an alternative idea: “They can stay. You feed them.”

The response of the disciples, sadly, is not so unusual: “But we don’t have enough to do that.”

That last bit of the conversation is common. When faced with what seems to be overwhelming need, we too often choose to be overwhelmed, convinced we don’t have what it takes to effectively make a difference.

Love will choose to differ. “You have enough,” love tells us. “Do something.”

Nick Foster

Pray

Lord, I am tired too and maybe feeling a little overwhelmed. Remind me that there is still something I can do as your servant. Amen.

Go

There is plenty. You need only take a little time to wait on God; then you will be prepared for the work God has for you.

So do not be discouraged; you can make a difference. The result may be greater than you can imagine.

There is enough and more than enough mercy, grace, and love to carry you. To carry us all.