Ordinary Time

Pause

Whenever the water struck a stone it had something to say,
and the water itself, and even the mosses trailing under the water.
And slowly, very slowly, it became clear to me what they were saying.
Said the river I am part of holiness.
And I too, said the stone. And I too, whispered the moss beneath the water.

Mary Oliver in “At the River Clarion” (Evidence, 2009)

What is God saying to you today? Through whom or what is God speaking?

Listen

I give thanks to you with all my heart, Lord. I sing your praise before all other gods.

I bow toward your holy temple and thank your name for your loyal love and faithfulness because you have made your name and word greater than everything else.

On the day I cried out, you answered me. You encouraged me with inner strength.

Psalm 138:1-3

Think

When I was young, I watched old black and white films. I loved the romantic comedies most. I suspect they led me to have these grand dreams about what relationships should be like. I was satisfied with those dreams and did not start dating until late in my life. I was so in love with make-believe partners in my dreams that real people could never compare. But not being in a relationship eventually got to me.

One night, I cried out to God. Honestly, I got angry with God. God answered my upset and angry prayer over many years. Over those years, my relationship with God developed. I grew to know more of who God was, and in turn, God taught me more about who I was. That the only love that really matters is the deep love of God. And that if I wanted a loving, loyal and faithful partner, I had to learn how to be loving, loyal, and faithful to the person that God created me to be.

Patrick Kangrga

Pray

God, thank you for your loyal love and faithfulness.

Help me to love as much like you as I can and to find peace in your love.

Amen.

Go

Where there’s water on Earth, you find life as we know it.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist

Spend time in the places and with the people who are your waters and life.

Seek out new waters and new life.

Be life to others.

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