Ordinary Time

Pause

Jesus, come and be with me.

Awaken me to your presence.

Jesus, come and sit with me.

Guide me in your truth.

Listen

Those traveling with him stood there speechless; they heard the voice but saw no one. After they picked Saul up from the ground, he opened his eyes but he couldn’t see. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind and neither ate nor drank anything.

In Damascus there was a certain disciple named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He answered, “Yes, Lord.”

The Lord instructed him, “Go to Judas’ house on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias enter and put his hands on him to restore his sight.”

Acts 9:7-12

Think

Three days of praying. After having heard the voice of God and losing his sight, Saul neither ate nor drank for three days straight. He chose to pray instead. Maybe Saul experienced a loss of appetite, which is commonly associated with stress or depression, or maybe it was intentional fasting. Maybe Saul was angry, humiliated, confused, and hurt. Whatever his reasons for not eating or drinking, Saul prayed instead. He lived on his prayers for three days straight.

What about us? What keeps us living? Is it resentment and disappointment or hope and joy? Jealousy and gossip or kindness and generosity? I wonder how different our attitudes would be if we lived on the practice of prayer every day, no matter the circumstances. I wonder the kind of difference it would make in our hearts and minds and the way we treat one another.

Maybe Bon Jovi had it right all along: “Wooah, we’re half way there / Livin’ on a prayer / Take my hand, we’ll make it – I swear / Livin’ on a prayer.”

Aram Bae

Pray

God, you know that life is not always easy. No matter what is happening to me or around me, help me to keep one thing steady — to pray without ceasing. Turn my worries, fears, and concerns into daily prayers. Guide me to pray for family, friends, and people hurting in this world. Amen.

Go

Christ my Lord, be alive and real in my life.

Christ my Friend, be near and true to your word.

Christ my God, be honored in what I say and do.