Ordinary Time

Pause

What’s on your list?

Your grades, your place on the team, how popular you are, what kind of car you drive, how many followers you have on Instagram?

You know that list — the one filled with the things we use to describe ourselves, to make us stand out, to remind us we are someone.

Except God isn’t really interested in all that. God is interested in who we are without all that stuff.

God, who favors the lowly over kings. God, who says the last shall be first and the first shall be last. God, who is recognized not by a crown, but by wounded hands and feet.

God, who wants us to add to our lists (and lives) words like love, forgiveness, grace, and honesty.

So, what’s on your list?

Let’s see what God may want to add…

Listen

Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. Think about the things above and not things on earth. You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

Think

Grocery stores have a secret. They put products at eye level they really want you to buy. Companies pay extra to have certain brands right in front of your face.

Are the products at this level better quality or a better bargain? No.

They are simply right there.

In fact, the better bargains, the bigger bang for your buck, and even the superior quality products are placed higher or lower on shelves. We have to look up or down and expend energy to reach them.

Life has a way of putting the easy stuff in front of us. When we’ve been betrayed, revenge is often the first thing we see. When we encounter a challenge, settling for less is easier than striving for something God may have waiting for us. When someone is angry at us, defensiveness is simpler than forgiveness.

God, however, wants us to seek things that are above, that are not the initial reactions, the easy answers, or the cheap words.

Look up to Christ. Seek the quality. Serve the Lord.

Laurie Brock

Pray

God of all creation, who loves me as I am and loves me into who I can become, open my eyes to see your vision of love, guide my feet to walk your path of mercy, and fill my heart and mind to do your will each day in my life, through the example of your loving son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go

The night before Jesus is handed over to his crucifixion and death, he gathers with his friends to share bread and wine. And he reminds them to love.

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another,” Jesus tells them and us.

Love invites us to seek what matters – our relationship with God – and reminds us we encounter God in all those we meet.

Jesus knew that love isn’t always an easy choice. He lived it. And he believes in us enough to ask us, “Will you love one another?”

Will you?

And if you will, how will you live that love each moment, day, and choice in your life?