Love & Kindness in Ordinary Time: Weekly Reflection
The heavens praise your wonders, Lord.- Psalm 89.5
After our recent journey through the seasons of Lent and Easter, and the celebrations of Pentecost and the Most Holy Trinity, we return to what the church calls Ordinary Time. The name refers to enumerated or “counted” Sundays. Because of the common use of the term “ordinary,” we might think that nothing important is going on. Not true! Ordinary Time challenges us to live our faith by extending kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and love.
At CMMB, we’re blessed that Joseph, a trained social worker in Kenya, followed his heart and the call to support our mission. Just a few months ago, he joined our team and began working directly with our Angel families living in poor, remote Mutomo. Joseph says:
I have lived in this area all my life. I grew up in a village not too far from Mutomo. As a boy, I attended a local primary school, graduated from Kitui High School, and then received my diploma from the Kenya Institute of Social Work. There is vast, extreme poverty here, and a large, marginalized community. As a witness to the daily suffering and hunger that impacts women and children, I have a passion to work with these vulnerable people. I want to improve their well-being as much as I can. I am working with more than 20 Angel children, from newborn to primary school age. I see the joy when I share the news that a child will receive healthcare, school fees, or food from an Angel. I see hope grow in these families when a kind person offers just a little help. My dream is to watch these children grow up healthy, go to school, and achieve their own goals and dreams in life. In this way, I believe the Angel Program will ultimately foster good, responsible people in Kenyan society, and the world at large.
Most of our encounters with the Lord are hidden among the ordinary events of our daily lives. We think that the love and kindness that Joseph routinely shares is truly extraordinary. During these days of Ordinary Time, may our faith be strengthened as we recognize and respond to Jesus as He comes to us in the routine events of life, and may we be willing, like Joseph, to show God’s love to all those we encounter.
I have lived in this area all my life. I grew up in a village not too far from Mutomo. As a boy, I attended a local primary school, graduated from Kitui High School, and then received my diploma from the Kenya Institute of Social Work. There is vast, extreme poverty here, and a large, marginalized community. As a witness to the daily suffering and hunger that impacts women and children, I have a passion to work with these vulnerable people. I want to improve their well-being as much as I can. I am working with more than 20 Angel children, from newborn to primary school age. I see the joy when I share the news that a child will receive healthcare, school fees, or food from an Angel. I see hope grow in these families when a kind person offers just a little help. My dream is to watch these children grow up healthy, go to school, and achieve their own goals and dreams in life. In this way, I believe the Angel Program will ultimately foster good, responsible people in Kenyan society, and the world at large.
Most of our encounters with the Lord are hidden among the ordinary events of our daily lives. We think that the love and kindness that Joseph routinely shares is truly extraordinary. During these days of Ordinary Time, may our faith be strengthened as we recognize and respond to Jesus as He comes to us in the routine events of life, and may we be willing, like Joseph, to show God’s love to all those we encounter.
Yours in grace,
CMMB/Healthier Lives Worldwide
*Today’s reflection was inspired by the Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana.
CMMB/Healthier Lives Worldwide
*Today’s reflection was inspired by the Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana.