Ordinary Time

Pause

What does it take to trust? Sometimes it’s experience over time; sometimes it’s a deeply moving event that takes place in a single moment.

To believe in God and in Christ revealed through Jesus, it sometimes takes an act of the will and a commitment to remain true to your faith.

Through it all God remains constant—at your side and within your heart. Trust that to be true in these next few quiet moments.

Listen

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:30–31

Think

Many people are taught in school to start a research paper by developing a thesis. You know the drill: pick an idea, a central point, and write it down. Then flesh it out with anecdotes and research that support that thesis. Most often, it’s good to start with the thesis so that it’s clear to the reader what you’re up to.

John breaks that rule, putting the point of his ancient biography at the very end. After all the information’s shared, all the stories told, all the miracles celebrated, he finally clues us into the point of it all.

The big idea? “[T]hat you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”

Today, look through the text on your screen toward the life it is pointing to: a life in Christ that is yours today.

John Woods

Pray

Loving God, who gives us life that is full and forever, show me how to share this good news with the world, so that all will know the freedom of your grace. Amen.

Go

Be true now in what you hold to be trustworthy;
Be honest now also when you are unsure.

In any and every case, Jesus remains
Close and steadfast with an enduring love,
A love that always shows up.