Ordinary Time

Pause

Slow, steady, deep inhale through the nose, hands on stomach to feel your belly rise.
Slower, steady, deep exhale through the mouth.

Say LORD HAVE as you breathe in.
Say MERCY as you breathe out.

LORD HAVE (breathe in)
MERCY (breathe out)

Repeat one final time, allowing your body to reflect your heart’s desire and mind’s focus to pause with the Holy One.

Listen

Jesus replied, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Luke 17:17-19

Think

There are a lot of opinions about faith. “Just have faith!” they say. Easier said than done, I say. While opinions may vary, I have a feeling we can all agree that faith is the way one lives, reflected in what we do, say, and behave. Hence, faith practices express our understanding of what we hold to be the most valuable and truthful. Faith is life-giving. I think that’s at the heart of today’s passages.

The faith of this one man gave him life. It was likely more than he expected but certainly what he desired the most. That’s the thing about faith — it has a way of bringing to surface our deepest hopes, for the God of hope is merciful and just.

Praise be to God for the gift of faith that has the mystery and power to heal us of our brokenness. Praise be to God for mercies that are new every morning.

Aram Bae

Pray

Lord of life and love, strengthen my faith when I am weak.

Help me to practice faithful living day by day.

Heal me of my brokenness and make me whole in you.

For by faith and with faith, I can do all things through you.

In Jesus’ merciful name I pray, amen.

Go

May God the Creator bless you and keep you safe today.

May Jesus the Christ smile upon you and be gracious towards you.

May the Spirit of Mercy lead you along the path of truth and wisdom.

And all of God’s people say —

Amen.