Ordinary Time

Pause

The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you....

There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it.

Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.

Frederick Buechner in Wishful Thinking, 1973

Listen

I love the Lord because he hears my requests for mercy. I’ll call out to him as long as I live, because he listens closely to me.

What can I give back to the Lord for all the good things he has done for me? I’ll lift up the cup of salvation. I’ll call on the Lord’s name. I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord in the presence of all God’s people.

Psalm 116:1-2, 12-14

Think

What do we do when we find ourselves covered by the grace of God? Do we hold it in for ourselves? Or do we allow it to overflow out of our lives into the lives of others? Paul tells us we will be boastful. Abraham’s visitors show us that we should be on the lookout for grace at all moments. Sarah proves to us that laughter brings about the fruits of grace. The psalmist says that we will take all of the grace God has poured upon us and thank God for it.

It is through pride in God’s grace even in light of our faults and sins, acceptance of God’s grace even in our haste, faith in God’s grace even in our doubts, and thankfulness for God’s grace that we will show others the effects of God’s grace in our own lives. Then maybe they will begin to see and take pride in and accept and have faith in God’s grace in their lives. What an amazing ripple of grace that will create. Thanks be to God.

Mary Kate Deal

Pray

God of Grace, thank you for your grace. Help me to accept it in such a way that it overflows out of my life into the lives of others. Show me how to be a good steward of your grace in how I accept it and give it. Amen.

Go

Take pride in God’s grace.

Accept God’s grace.

Have faith in God’s grace.

Thank God for grace.