Ordinary Time

Pause

In your busy day,

in your quiet moments,

in solitude,

in the crowd,

God is reaching out to you in love.

Be still for a moment and rest in that love.

Listen

You are my friends if you do what I command you. I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you.

John 15:14-15

Think

“Elbows in!” “Don’t start a sentence with ‘and!’” “Come in early and work late!”

There are times in our lives when we are asked to do something, and we just do it, not really understanding why we do it. Maybe we just trust the person who told us to do it: our coach, a teacher, our boss – or even Jesus.

But how much more rewarding it is when we know what we’re doing and why we do it. We can complete our tasks with intention, understanding, and passion.

Jesus may be asking us to serve others, but not as menial slaves. He has made known to us God’s plan, that we all love one another, working side-by-side with Jesus to manifest that love to all.

We are no longer merely servants; we are the friends of Jesus – his brothers and sisters in the task of redeeming the world.

Jane Claspy Nesmith

Pray

Loving God, who has shared your plans for the world with me, let me learn to work alongside you as a servant-friend, reaching out to those around me with love and peace. Let my knowledge of your plans for the world bring energy and steadfastness to my work today and always. Amen.

Go

Wrapped in the peace of God

and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit,

take the love of Jesus with you

wherever you go today

and every day.