Ordinary Time

Pause

“One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can’t be human all by yourself  […]

You are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.”

from No Future Without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu (1999)

Listen

So the Lord God formed from the fertile land all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky and brought them to the human to see what he would name them. The human gave each living being its name. The human named all the livestock, all the birds in the sky, and all the wild animals. But a helper perfect for him was nowhere to be found.

Genesis 2:19-20

Think

Humans are interconnected with all of God’s creation, but we have a way of communication that is unique to our species.

Rose, my sister’s dog, understands everything I say. I like to believe that she shares in my joys and frustrations. When I ask her for advice on what to do she twists her head to the side. She barks. My sister calls me “the dog whisperer” for I interpret (at least I think I do) what Rose said. In reality, Rose doesn’t speak my type of communication.

Can you imagine how the human must have felt being around all those majestic creatures and species, and none of them could speak the human’s type of communication?

We are just like the human in the scriptures. We, too, need someone to whom we can talk and relate, a fellow human to understand us. God has placed each of us in a community of humans to share our joys and frustrations, to play or simply enjoy life together. Although these humans may not be perfect, be open to growing into perfection together while doing life in community.

Crystal Rook

Pray

Creator of the animals in the sky, land, and the sea, I am grateful that you are our help in times of our greatest need. Thank you for providing someone for me to talk to. Thank you for listening. Amen.

Go

Open our eyes to see everyone in our community.

Increase our hearing to listen to your creation.

Bless our hands to help those who need our help in our community.

Open our hearts to receive everyone in our community.

Teach us to be in community.

Water and Grow us into Ubuntu – the essence of being human.