Ordinary Time

Pause

The world is loud;
turn inward to a quiet heart.

The pace of life is hectic;
slow down and be still for a moment.

You have forgotten to breathe;
take a long, slow inhale and feel your body relax with the exhale.

Busyness has stolen your focus;
clear your head and turn to God.

Listen

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to bear witness to all of you about these things for the churches. I’m the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star. The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come! Let the one who wishes receive life-giving water as a gift.”

Revelation 22:16-17

Think

Jesus is the root. Jesus is the bright morning star. Jesus is life-giving water. How often during the day and night do we encounter a tree or water or a star? Unless we live in a cave… the answer is EVERY DAY!

Jesus abides with us in all times and in all places, to quench our spiritual thirsts and satisfy our spiritual hungers. When we ask, we will receive. When we seek, we will find.

God, through Jesus, promises never to be far from us — only as far as our voices carry the words, “God, come near!”

Instead of waiting until Sunday mornings to incline our ears to God and open our lips to sing God’s praise, I wonder what it would mean to recognize God’s nearness to us when we see the sun shining over the horizon or a tree covered with the green buds of spring.

If we begin to see God everywhere, then perhaps we will feel God’s presence with us everywhere we go.

Sarah McCaslin

Pray

Creator God, thank you for being present in the tree and the star and the waters of life. Help me know that you are near to me in all times and in all places. Amen.

Go

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate (390-461 AD)