Practicing the Presence of God - Really

Today's meditation from The Rev. Dr. Michael Battle of CREDO:

And as Jesus sat at dinner* in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples--for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"--Mark 2: 15, 16.

In the major religions of the world, there are practical steps toward practicing the presence of God. First, spend daily time in prayer. This process begins with seeking and finding God, because the deep wisdom of faith is that we cannot control God's presence in our lives. If we could, then the presence would not be God. We see this occurring with Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors. Those who thought they were most religious had figured out the boundaries for God--or so they thought. Herein is the value of Lent--to both uncover our assumptions and make us pay better attention to God's presence which no one can control.

The second practical step toward practicing the presence of God is to be a friend to the poor. This is important because the reign of God is always identified with the dignity of each person made in God's image, and the need for all people to share in the abundance of this earth. Possessions, the wealth we have in the form of power, property, and prestige, are to be used to reverse conditions of poverty in the world that most contradict the breaking in of the reign of God.

Let us pray,
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.