Ordinary Time

Pause

“Deep within us all there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center… to which we may continuously return. Eternity is at our hearts... calling us home unto Itself.”

Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, 1941

Spend a few moments looking into your heart today and see: Christ’s Light is there, waiting for you.

Listen

The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees every human being. From his dwelling place God observes all who live on earth. God is the one who made all their hearts, the one who knows everything they do.

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. Our heart rejoices in God because we trust his holy name. Lord, let your faithful love surround us because we wait for you.

Psalm 33:13-15, 20-22

Think

As a response to the threat of terrorism, the US federal government monitors the email, cell phones, text messages, and internet use of American citizens. Recent research by the Pew Research Center found that 87% of Americans know about government surveillance, and that most people do not like it — yet only 25% of Americans have changed how they behave because of government monitoring.

The picture painted by the psalmist couldn’t be more different. God sees all that occurs, and God knows the hearts and motives of each person. The knowledge of God is infinitely greater than any human knowledge could ever be. Yet this is a good thing for the psalmist — knowing that God sees everything leads the psalmist to hope, rejoicing, and trust.

One of the marks of living faith is an awareness of God’s constant presence. God always sees, knows, and understands us. God’s faithful love surrounds us. If that is true, what does it mean for you today? How can you live differently because of God’s constant presence?

Andrew Garnett

Pray

God, I know that you are with me wherever I go. May that knowledge help me live differently today. Amen.

Go

Go today with a faith that is alive to the presence and the possibilities of God.