Ordinary Time

Pause

In your busy day,

in your quiet moments,

in solitude,

in the crowd,

God is reaching out to you in love.

Be still for a moment and rest in that love.

Listen

This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:12-13

Think

I was with my friend on a busy street in Chicago. When the “walk” sign went on, my friend stepped off the curb. Just then, a bus turned the corner, barreling right toward her.

Although I’d like to say I ran out and pulled her to safety, I did not; I was paralyzed with shock and could only yell “watch out!”

Luckily the bus swerved, and my friend was unhurt.

The incident made me think about risking one’s life to save another person. Our instinct is to preserve ourselves, not suffer injury – or death – for the sake of another person.

Jesus did more than just risk his life: he laid it down for us. Because he was fully human, he must have felt the instinct to stay on the curb. But he stepped off anyway, dying to save us.

Jesus challenges us to love one another in the same way: taking risks to reach out in love, even when our instinct is to stay safe on the curb.

Jane Claspy Nesmith

Pray

Loving Lord, you laid down your life for me out of love. Help me to show your love to others, even when it means stepping off the curb and taking a risk. Point me to where I can step out in love for you and give me strength to do it. Amen.

Go

Wrapped in the peace of God

and strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit,

take the love of Jesus with you

wherever you go today

and everyday.