Ordinary Time

Pause

Today is a busy day. It is full of things that must get done and people that must be seen. With the help of God, I can be peace in every encounter. With the help of God I can be a holy presence in every conversation.  With the help of God I can place the thumbprint of the divine on every assignment. With God’s help I will be the best version of myself today.

Offer space in a busy day for the God who has already gone before you into it, and trust in the help that will come.

Listen

"Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Matthew 21:25-27

Think

Whether I’m texting or talking to someone in person, one of the most irritating responses that I can receive is: I don’t know. Very often, it’s a lie! We go with “idk” when we suspect the answer we should give is not going to satisfy or will perhaps upset the person asking the question. It is a way of escaping the truth and perhaps the consequences of an honest answer.

I wonder what the religious leaders in our story really believed. Either way, they felt that they could not answer the question. But if they were able to answer honestly, what would they have said and where would that conversation have gone? When questions of faith are asked of us, may we find the strength to do more than escape into “I don’t know.” When our lives are examined, may they speak of more than the safe response of casual Christian living. May we be open to the conversion and conversation that begins with a deeply honest response in word or action.

Lucas Dorion

Pray

God, grant us humble hearts that we might answer truthfully about our mistakes. In honest answers before you, and in our community, may we find strength to let you transform us.

Go

Go now into the world confident that you are not alone, and at peace knowing that God will be with you wherever you find yourself this day.