Ordinary Time

Pause

Holy Spirit, come breathe on me.

Awaken me to your presence.

Steady me in your truth.

Holy Spirit, come breathe on me.

Listen

So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it isn’t an obligation to ourselves to live our lives on the basis of selfishness. If you live on the basis of selfishness, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the actions of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:12-13

Think

I am a sucker for war movies. Saving Private Ryan, Glory, and Braveheart are my top three. Part of the reason is because of my dad. It’s what we do together. Father-daughter time watching war movies and being moved to tears (dad included). The other reason is because of the camaraderie among the soldiers. It’s like an unspoken code of honor and loyalty that binds the men together through blood, sweat, and tears. The code is often the difference between life and death.

We all have a code by which we live, a moral compass that helps us when making decisions. As people of faith, we share the same code, and it is this: our code of ethics is shaped by the Spirit of God. It is by the Spirit that we live a full life. It is a life with meaning and purpose. It is a life that is not only blessed but also blesses others. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a code worth living by — a life by the Spirit.

Aram Bae

Pray

God, you bless me with everything I need. You are the reason I live with purpose and direction, even when I feel lost. Help me to remember that you are with me, guiding my steps. Encourage me to live by the Spirit each and every day, trusting that you will bless me and that I can be a blessing to those around me. Amen.

Go

Spirit of the living God, be alive and real in my life.

Spirit of a loving God, be near and true to your word.

Spirit of a just God, be honored in what I say and do.