Ordinary Time

Pause

“I am the beginning in the end
I am the faith in your believing
I am the color of truth
I am the dreamer of your dreams
I am the falling in your love
I am the words of a prayer
I am the silence in the music
I am the music in the silence”

from “God Is” by Danielle Rose (2000)

Listen

Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: “The Human One must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts, and be killed, and then, after three days, rise from the dead.” He said this plainly. But Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him. Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then sternly corrected Peter: “Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.”

Mark 8:31-33

Think

I recently found out that my sweet, curious, and gentle black cat named Zora has feline leukemia. At the very best, she’ll be with us for 3 more years. If we’re being honest, she probably won’t last that long.

I would never wish this upon her. It’s not fair. I don’t want to watch her suffer. And yet, mourning her passing is a small, painful price to pay for the years of love and joy she has brought into my life.

Peter didn’t want to watch Jesus suffer. He was hoping, from the depths of his heart, that Jesus could somehow avoid the pain of rejection and death. Not only would it be painful for Jesus, but it would hurt Peter to watch. That’s the cost of love.

Loving someone means guaranteeing yourself that, at some point, you will be heartbroken. We spend a lot of time and energy trying to avoid pain – physically, emotionally, spiritually. But love is the way. Even when love means dealing with pain and suffering alongside others, Love is the way.

Allie Scott

Pray

God, you have promised that you will be with me until the end. Hold me as I struggle and love me as I love others. Amen.

Go

I’m here, God. Send Me.

from Isaiah 6:8