Author Archives: Mary Ann

Focus on God

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus tenté dans le désert
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper,
between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Matthew 4:10

I give power to whatever I focus on. Today I will serve the Lord by putting my attention on God, especially when I am tempted to dwell on pain, fatigue, heartache, problems in my family, financial issues, or the many distressing events in our world.

Lord, you are love. Thank you for welcoming me into your holy presence.

Kindness and mercy

Mount of the Beatitudes

Jesus said to his disciples, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44

The Lord doesn’t call me to seek out harmful situations, but life experiences of unjust treatment, rejection, or abuse do happen. I must cultivate a practice of letting go of the pain, fear, and grief caused by people or events that are out of my control and ask God to bless everyone I find hard to love.

Today I will immerse myself in God’s kindness and mercy. I will ask God to open my heart so that I may in my turn release the kindness and mercy I receive from God into the world.

Lord, bless all the people I resent and help me to forgive them. Bless all those who resent me, too, as I am not always kind, merciful, or loving in my treatment of others.

Look into the depths

Mount of the Beatitudes

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. 1 Corinithians 2:10b

God’s Holy Spirit leads me to scrutinize my words, actions, behaviors, and attitudes to discern where I have loved and where I have neglected to love.

Today I will spend quiet time alone and ask the Spirit to open my mind and heart to receive God’s love, to help me choose justice, generosity, forgiveness, and compassion in my interactions—and to be accountable for how I treat myself and others.

Lord, help me trust and practice your law of love today.

To-do list

Mount of Beatitudes

Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Isaiah 58:7

Sometimes I just don’t know how to help. There are so many people in need.

But the Lord gives me a simple to-do list. Share my food and clothing. Find a way to help those without homes and those who are suffering unjust, inhumane treatment. Honor and respect all people. Make my home an oasis of kindness and welcome.

Today I will shine the light of love and compassion in my corner of the world. I will refuse to be indifferent to any of God’s children.

Blessed with love

Seek justice, seek humility. Zephaniah 2:3b

Grief, confrontation, and injustice are realities of the human condition. Every time our lives are disrupted by death, illness, aggression, violence, prejudice, or discrimination, we have the opportunity to ask God to help us, to teach us what we need to learn from the experience in order to grow in our likeness to God’s love and goodness.

To seek justice for ourselves and others is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

To seek humility is to look to the Lord to teach us how to relate to others from a place of peace, understanding, and compassion.

Today I will remember God’s Spirit is in me to teach me and lead me. I am blessed to be alive to share God’s goodness and love with all of my neighbors near and far.

Follow Love

James Tissot (1836-1902)
Calling of Saint James and Saint John

Jesus called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:21c-22

Constant reports of war, greed, illness, depression, aggression, finger-pointing, and lack of personal accountability are causes of gloom and distress in our daily lives.

But the Lord calls us to leave our preoccupation with all that is in disrepair in the world and instead follow him to show by our life example that reconciliation, respect, courtesy, and compassionate service have the power to mend all divisions.

Today I will remember God has graced me with a spirit of love. I will follow the Lord on the way of love to bring the light of kindness, encouragement, and hope to all people I encounter.

Transformed by God’s grace and peace

Zelenka, Dave. Baptism of Christ, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56385 [retrieved January 14, 2023]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baptism-of-Christ.jpg.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3

Each day is an opportunity to consciously place ourselves in the presence of God and ask to be touched by God’s grace and filled with God’s peace.

And as we receive these gifts, we are called to be servants of God’s will and give them away so that the light of reconciliation and love may reach to the ends of the earth.

God is my strength. Today I will let God’s grace and peace transform my thoughts, words, and the ways in which I interact with the people I encounter.

The treasures we offer

JESUS MAFA. Visit of the Three Wise Men, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

The magi opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11

When I open my heart, I find beautiful treasures of compassion, comfort, and kindness to offer to others.

Today I will explore my heart to uncover its treasures. I will offer these gifts to God through my interactions with each member of God’s human family.

The blessing of God-with-us

The Birth of Jesus with Shepherds

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace! Numbers 6:24-26

Let us not cease pondering the blessing of God-with-us, the wonder of the unfailing presence of God’s unconditional love, compassion, and acceptance. Let us open our minds, hearts, and lives to receive and radiate God’s light, kindness, and peace.

Today I will enter the sacred space of my heart to reflect on how God’s grace and love touch me each day. I will look for God’s presence in the glory of God’s creation, especially in all members of God’s diverse human family.

Entrusted with the care of God

John August Swanson
Shepherds

The shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. Luke 2:16

God entrusted the infant Jesus— Emmanuel, God with us—
to humble human beings
to care for him…
love him…
cherish him.

Today I will remember that each of us has been made by God in love to embody love and carry love with us. Wherever I find God’s human children, may I always hasten to treat them with love and reverence.

Merry Christmas!