Ordinary Time

Pause

In the calm, God is Love.
During the storm, God is Love.

In times of peace, God is Love.
During times of confusion, God is Love.

No matter who we are, where we go, or what we do, God is always and forever Love.

Listen

In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don’t know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans. The one who searches hearts knows how the Spirit thinks, because he pleads for the saints, consistent with God’s will. We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:26-28

Think

When Jesus ascends back to heaven after the resurrection, the disciples and followers of Jesus are left wondering, “Well, what do we do now?” Much like after Jesus’ crucifixion 43 days earlier, they feel alone and without direction. Yet, as Jesus tells the crowd moments before he is lifted up to heaven in Acts 1:8, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

To this day, the presence of the Holy Spirit helps us in times of weakness and uncertainty. In times of loneliness, confusion, and frustration, the Holy Spirit continues to guide us and to show God’s love for us. Through the Spirit, God continues to work all things together for the good of those who love God.

Jonathan Hall

Pray

Loving God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. When I feel lonely, confused, or frustrated, help me to remember that you are with me always. Help me to trust the path you have put before me. Amen.

Go

May God give you Grace never to sell yourself short!

Grace to risk something big for something good!

Grace to remember that the world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but Love!

from “The Dismissal Blessing” by William Sloane Coffin