Ordinary Time

Pause

Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.

Matthew 28:20

Are you free today? God has made time for you.

Still your worries and busyness for a moment to receive that gift of grace anew.

Listen

The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41-42

Think

So Mary made the “better” choice, which it turns out was a whole lot less work than whatever the first-century equivalent of vacuuming and microwaving Martha was up to. Jesus wasn’t concerned about how clean their lives were or what culinary preparations they could make to offer him. True devotion to God was simply choosing to be still in the presence of God. Jesus wanted to visit Martha and Mary in the reality of their lives, without some pretense of pious preparation. Just be amidst their daily living. Mary visited with God, and nothing could take that closeness away from her.

It might have been less work for Mary than all of Martha’s busyness, but the life of faith may be much harder — less work, but harder. For us, the life of faith is about accepting that God wants to visit and transform us just as we are, unprepared and amidst our messy lives. God’s grace isn’t anything we can work for, but when received in faith, it will not be taken away from us.

Molly Logan

Pray

Gracious and loving God, help me to receive your grace as a gift, not anything that I could work for, but simply a gift. Amidst the messiness of my life, help me to see myself as you see me and have the faith to be still and near to you. Amen.

Go

Lord, you have examined me. You know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up. Even from far away, you comprehend my plans. You study my traveling and resting. You are thoroughly familiar with all my ways. There isn’t a word on my tongue, Lord, that you don’t already know completely. You surround me—front and back. You put your hand on me.

Psalm 139:1-5

God knows you and loves you.

Receive and live in the reality of that gracious encounter and embrace today.