Author Archives: Mary Ann

Listen to Him

Икона, Преображение Господне, 15 в. Новгород
Icon, Transfiguration of the Lord, 15th c., Novgorod

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. Luke 9:28b-29

Prayer opens our hearts and minds to the presence of God. In trust and vulnerability, we allow ourselves to receive healing of all the trauma and wounds that have become stumbling blocks on our journey to wholeness. God’s grace transforms us inwardly and outwardly into humble, faithful servants of God’s love in the world.

Today I will consciously seek God’s presence through prayer and meditation. I will ask God, “How can I help and serve you today?” I will listen for God’s response and follow through to the best of my ability.

Trust God

Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (1837-1887)
Le Christ dans le désert, 1872
Tretyakov Gallery

Jesus said to [the devil] in reply, “It also says,
‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.‘” Luke 4:12

We have no need to test God. Even in dark times, God is with us. God doesn’t protect us from anything, but God sustains us in everything.

Today I will trust God is near me. I will trust God to sustain me as I do my best to embody nonviolence, peace, kindness, compassion, and welcome—even in the dark times.

Labor of love

Tafereeltegel, de splinter en de balk, hoekmotief ossenkop
keramiek, aardewerk, glazuur
1750-1850
Museum Rotterdam 1544-12

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

Each day I put my trust in God’s love and care for me and every person on Earth. Each day I renew my commitment to love God and my neighbor as myself. Each day I intentionally practice gratitude, choose peaceful words, listen attentively when others speak, offer encouragement to those who are discouraged, and reach out to those who are ill, sad, or lonely.

Today I will keep my focus on God and devote myself to the work of God: Love.

Do good

Jesus said to his disciples, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31

As a follower of Jesus, I do my best to do as he teaches and as he shows me by his own example. I do my best to treat others with kindness, respect, and courtesy. I do my best to listen and encourage others, to be present to others who are suffering, to embody patience, compassion, forgiveness.

These practices take all my energy. Sometimes I fail at them. But I keep working at it because I know Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Today I will remember that every person is a beloved child of God. I will do my best to love the people I consider “enemies” and do good to them.

Blessed with hope

Laura James
Sermon on the Mount, 2010
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved February 16, 2025]. Original source: Laura James, laurajamesart.com/collections/religious/

Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7

We are living in a time of cosmic stress. As frail human beings, we may feel distraught, overwhelmed, grief-stricken, angry, helpless.

But, blessed with hope, we know that God’s vision of peace and unity is in motion. God is trustworthy. God sustains us and gives us the courage to carry on the mission of love and compassion even amid the turbulence of human greed, injustice, indifference, and cruelty.

Today I will pray, “Lord, I trust you” whenever I feel afraid or in doubt. I will intentionally choose the path of hope and kindness in all my interactions and know God blesses my efforts to bring peace to my corner of the world.

Breathe in love

Mike Moyers
Miracle Catch
oil on panel, 2019
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Original source: Mike Moyers Fine Art

Lord, when I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. Psalm 138:3

Every moment of the day is full to bursting with the holy presence of God. Each time I breathe in, the Spirit of God fills me with love. Each time I breathe out, I cast myself into the deep waters of God’s infinite presence.

Today I will deepen my conscious contact with the Lord by mindfully breathing in God’s love. When I breathe out, I will call on the Lord for strength and help—and remember God’s answer is always love.

Purified in love

Rembrandt (1606-1669)
Simeon and Anna in the Temple
oil on oak wood, 1627
Hamburg, Hamburger Kunsthalle

Because Jesus himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. Hebrews 2:18

Jesus is no stranger to the personal experience of human suffering. Our Lord knows knows what it is to be a refugee, to be hunted and persecuted, to endure pain and rejection and injustice, to be mocked and humiliated, to be executed.

Like Jesus, we trust that doing the will of God is more important than the challenges of the human condition. Jesus teaches us that the greatest commandments are to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. When we listen to each other, help each other, treat all people with respect, kindness, and compassion, we bring healing to our troubled world by our willingness to be present to all who are suffering.

Today I will ask God to purify my thoughts and actions so that I become a servant to God’s will, a channel of peace and nonviolence, and a conduit for God’s healing love.

A Spirit for healing

James Tissot (1835-1902)
Jésus dans la synagogue déroule le livre
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper,
between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum

But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy. 1 Corinthians 12:24-26

We need each other. Every person counts. Every person has something to offer, something to teach, some way of being that is essential to the body that is our human family. We have each been given God’s Spirit for some good purpose.

Today I will ask the Spirit to show me how I can help heal the suffering and division in our human family—and to give me the power to carry out this Spirit-directed mission.

Grow in love

Father George Saget
Mural, 1963
Altar of Keur Moussa Abbey

His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5

As servers of the Lord, it is our privilege to help carry out his mission of love and healing.

Jesus tells us to love God—and our neighbor as ourselves. And so we must find ways to love each other. Love is kind and welcoming. Love is generous and forgiving. Love is open-handed and vulnerable. Love is helping each other through difficult times by listening, encouraging, and sharing what we have.

Today I will make good use of the gifts the Spirit has given me to do what Jesus has told me to do. I will participate in the miracle of love’s healing power.

Give comfort

Jacob de Wit (1695-1754)
Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
chalk and pen, ca.1716
Amsterdam, Amstelkring Museum
via Wikimedia Commons

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1

People are struggling in so many ways. Food is expensive. Rents are high. Natural disasters abound. Wars are devastating whole peoples.

We are the eyes and hands and heart of God in the world. In our small, individual ways, let us bring comfort to those who face tragedy and distress. Spend time with the broken, pray, listen, encourage, bring food to the food pantry, knit a welcome blanket for a refugee.

Love. Never. Fails.

Today I will give comfort to others by embodying love and hope with my attitude, words, and actions.