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
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! You made your glory higher than heaven! From the mouths of nursing babies you have laid a strong foundation because of your foes, in order to stop vengeful enemies. When I look up at your skies, at what your fingers made— the moon and the stars that you set firmly in place— what are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them? You’ve made them only slightly less than divine, crowning them with glory and grandeur.
Psalm 8:1-5
Think
How Great is Our Lord in all the Earth! Everywhere we look in nature from the flowers to the birds to the mountains to the beach to the stars, we are in awe of God’s imagination to create all manner of species in the heavens and universe, in and under the earth, some of which scientists are still discovering today.
We mere humans exist within the gravity force of the Earth. What and who do we think we are? Why did God create us in the first place? Why does God even want to notice us? God cares about details. God cares about God’s creation. We are created in God’s own image.
Although humans are less than divine, this psalm considers humans to be above the rest of creation. God wants humans to be responsible and accountable while in community with creation by taking care of and loving one another, not dominating or controlling one another. Often times, we misunderstand that being in the likeness of God doesn’t mean that we are God; we are to be in relationship with God.
Crystal Rook
Pray
God, I am in awe of your splendor, glory, and majesty. I am amazed that you would take the time to pay attention to us humans, yet I am grateful that you do. Thank you for your tender care and attention. 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.
