Ordinary Time

Pause

The world doesn’t need a miracle from above to end hate, oppression, injustice, and inequality. It doesn’t need an act of God to end the suffering we see happening.

The world needs us, followers of Jesus, to say “Enough already!” and to work together to be God’s hands and feet.

Listen

So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-13

Think

Now that we are here to serve, how do we keep going when our differences seem too difficult to overcome? How do we keep going when our disagreements create tensions that can lead to hostility?

It will not be easy, but we must persist and work together. Persist because we are all brought near to an eternal God whose power is unmatched. Persist because we carry the hope of God’s love to those in need. Persist and keep serving the poor, speaking out against injustice, helping those in need, and freeing the oppressed together. Persist because we belong to love and love demands that we have each other’s back!

We, black and white, conservative and liberal, rich and poor, are one in Christ. The world doesn’t need a miracle from above. The world needs us to be one in Christ and persist in love.

Ed Stallworth

Pray

Lord, I thank you for your persistent love. May I also have persistent love for others. Amen.

Go

You are the answer to the prayers of the hungry, lonely, bullied, oppressed, and hurting.

What will you do today – not tomorrow or someday – to be the hands and feet of God in your world?