Ordinary Time

Pause

All eyes look to you, hoping,
and you give them their food right on time,
opening your hand
and satisfying the desire of every living thing.

Psalm 145:15-16

Listen

You will no longer be called Abandoned, and your land will no longer be called Deserted. Instead, you will be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land, Married. Because the Lord delights in you, your land will be cared for once again. As a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you. With the joy of a bridegroom because of his bride, so your God will rejoice because of you.

Isaiah 62:4-5

Think

What’s in a name? As someone who has a name that can be given to either a boy or a girl, I’ve always found names to be significant. People meet me anticipating another gender than I am, and sometimes they respond by putting their surprise and embarrassment back on me, like it’s my fault I wasn’t the person they were expecting. It can get exhausting, having to smooth over meeting new people who seem dissatisfied with who I am and what I am named.

But God is constantly changing people’s names in the Scriptures! Whether it’s Abram to Abraham or Jacob to Israel or Deserted to My Delight is in Her, God changes names not because those previous names are disappointing, but because they do not express the delight God feels about each and every person, no matter what they have done or will do. God knows who we really are, and we are never a disappointment to God. God delights and rejoices in us because that is who God is, no matter what we are named.

Jordan Haynie Ware

Pray

Almighty God, you wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature to show the overwhelming love and delight you have in all human beings. Assure me of that love when I forget how valuable I am to you, so valuable that you gave up everything you had for my sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

(Some phrases inspired by the Book of Common Prayer)

Go

My mouth will proclaim the Lord’s praise,
and every living thing will bless God’s holy name
forever and always.

Psalm 145:21