Readings:
Acts of the Apostle 28:16-20, 30-31
John 21:20-25
The first reading is the part I want to focus on. Paul writes a letter and tries his case. He remains in waiting for 2 years. Whilst he is in this time the scripture says that “he received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hinderance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ”. ACTS 28:30
I don’t know about you, but I (like Paul in the scripture) spend a lot of time in waiting. Waiting in traffic, waiting for responses from emails, waiting for my hubby to get home from work or the kids to get home from school, for school holiday sleep ins. Our culture doesn’t like waiting. Everything is instant so when we do wait.. what is happening in our hearts in that space? What is our responses like? It’s tempting to go with the flesh and get frustrated, annoyed, or go back into the past (if only I got up earlier, took that left turn instead of right I wouldn’t be in the traffic, if only the kids didn’t miss the bus etc) We can go into the future (I can’t wait till my little toddler starts to walk, goes to school, for my next holiday) instead the challenge is to go with eth spirit and live in the present.
To be present in the moment means to be free/unhindered. Welcoming all and having conversations that speak of God’s love, to be truly present, to listen deeply, aware of the sacred time that is now and making the most of our time, always praying, praising, thanking and loving. The Kingdom of God is now… stop waiting but be in the present moment, lets breathe and tune in welcoming all and unhindered in our minds …like Paul.
Jo McDade is the Team Manager of The Passionist Youth Retreat Team, Wife and Mother of 4 kiddos and basically a spiritual person on a human experience!