Ordinary Time 
Pause
Slow, steady, deep inhale through the nose, hands on stomach to feel your belly rise.
Slower, steady, deep exhale through the mouth.
Repeat the breath and say FULLNESS as you breathe in.
Say PEACE as you breathe out.
Breathe in, FULLNESS. Breathe out, PEACE.
One more time, allowing your body to reflect your heart’s desire and mind’s focus to pause with the Holy One.
Listen
A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. A word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to one person, a word of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit, faith to still another by the same Spirit, gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit, performance of miracles to another, prophecy to another, the ability to tell spirits apart to another, different kinds of tongues to another, and the interpretation of the tongues to another. All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what he wants to each person.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Think
Some may think that the common good is too elusive and hardly realistic. Given the current state of affairs, they may be right. Take a step back, however, to expand our perspective, and we might adjust our frame of mind. The common good, after all, has persisted its way through history, bending that arc of the moral universe towards justice. There is, I believe, more good than evil, more helpers than takers, and more love to strengthen our resolve in the name of common good. This is more than a hopeful wish or American dream. This is, as it turns out, Scripture.
In today’s passage, we learn from the apostle Paul that the Holy Spirit cares about the common good; the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and faith; the gift to provide healing; and the gift to discern good from destruction. Such gifts are for the purposes of the common good, not to toot one’s own horn. And the Spirit of the Living God is behind it all, showing deep concern and steadfast care for the good of us all.
Aram Bae
Pray
God of all creation, I thank you for your vast care over everything and everyone. My mind cannot comprehend and my heart can’t contain it.
Enlighten my way of thinking and the convictions of my heart so that I may seek to be part of the common good for all creation.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Go
May God the Creator bless you and keep you safe today.
May Jesus the Christ smile upon you and be gracious towards you.
May the Spirit of Life lead you in the path of wisdom and peace.
And all of God’s people say: Amen!
