Ordinary Time

Pause

Make me aware of your presence that wonder may have its way with me, my passion be released, my confidence renewed in the depths of your holiness …

Ted Loder in Guerillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle (1981)

Listen

“Therefore, as God’s offspring, we have no need to imagine that the divine being is like a gold, silver, or stone image made by human skill and thought. God overlooks ignorance of these things in times past, but now directs everyone everywhere to change their hearts and lives. This is because God has set a day when he intends to judge the world justly by a man he has appointed. God has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Acts 17:29-31

Think

The good news of Easter is that the grave is empty. New life prevails. Through his resurrection, Jesus gives new life to his followers. This new life enables us to see ourselves as God sees us: beloved. This new life requires a change of heart and a change of life.

Too often we go through life thinking if we changed something about ourselves, then others would love us more. If I changed how I look, then I would receive more recognition from others. If I changed schools, I would make more friends. God does require us to change, but not in this kind of way.

The change we need is a change of heart, a change of life. We need to change how we see ourselves in relation to God and one another. We change not so God will love us more, but because God already loves us more than we can imagine. This new identity changes how we see God and everything God has created.

A changed heart and life is the way we recognize God’s presence within us.

Kyle Caudle

Pray

God of New Life, in your love for me, change my heart. Open it to your love and grace.

In your mercy for me, change my life. Turn me toward your hope and peace, that I may live as your beloved.

Amen.

Go

Go and chase the love that has called you,

Go and seek the truth that has found you,

Go and rest in the peace that grounds you,

Recognizing God is with you wherever you may go.

Amen.