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
The one who bears witness to these things says, “Yes, I’m coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
Revelation 22:20-21
Think
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like God is coming soon. We read so many stories of wars overseas and violence in our own communities. People we know are sick; people we love have died. Even we have felt hurt or lost or alone.
In the book of Revelation, we hear about God’s faithfulness. What God promises, God does. Despite all evidence to the contrary, God is trustworthy. What does that mean? I don’t know, but I know that it is good news that I can trust.
Our task as Christians is to live “in the meantime.” And that’s not easy. But let’s look at our tool kits: we have the story of God’s love for the world and God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ. We have a faith community that gathers to be God’s hands and feet in the world. We have the presence of God at the Lord’s Table.
Can we reach into our kits when things look bleak and find what we need to be able to say, “Come, Lord Jesus!”— and believe it?
Sarah McCaslin
Pray
God, abide with me when darkness deepens. When I begin to doubt your presence, make yourself known to me in the telling of your story, the gathering of your community, and the breaking of bread. 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)
