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Skimming the Surface

24/7/2025

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:
Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Colossians
2.12-14

Brothers and sisters, When you were buried with Christ in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the Cross.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

This has been a busy week. One that has left me second-guessing every interaction. I scrutinize and analyze my motives, words, actions. I wonder if I was communicating lovingly or critically. Did I lift up or tear down? Are my ruminations the result of deeds I should apologize for, or have they manifested through old wounds that left me feeling insecure and “bad”?

Did I pray enough?

Was I listening to Him when I did?

In times like these, when it feels like I am lacking the time to make real connections with others and rather skim the surface of each encounter, barely taking them in, I find narratives of shame encircle me. I can be very creative with the stories I author on behalf of others. Stories that lead to division in my heart – isolation.

And then I sat with this reading from Colossians. “He set this aside. Nailing it to the cross.” All that I’ve done – all that I ever will do – He is willing to leave there, at the cross. Can I leave it there, too?

A careful examination of conscience is a healthy practice. Leaning into my relationships and responsibilities with a heart that desires integrity and is willing to reconcile is a holy disposition. Still, a fine line hovers between self-examination and self-scrutiny. When that sneaky voice of shame begins to emerge, and I receive a sentence of condemnation within the walls of my mind, it’s important to remind myself whose voice that is, because it does not sound like the resounding mercy of God.

I was buried with Christ in baptism.

Submerged, underwater, the old is gone.

Drawn back to the surface, I breathed in new life, a life eternal.

Breathe Him in.

Accept your new identity.

Put on Christ.

Be who He called you to be.

Look within through eyes eternal.

Lori MacDonald

1 Comment

If God Is All You Have, Then He’s All That You Need

23/7/2025

5 Comments

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:
Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 138

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me.

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the Angels I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness.

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me.

For you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me.

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies.

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me.

You stretch out your hand and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

R. On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

"On the day I called, you answered me" (Psalm 138:3).

These words came alive to me on June 30, 2025, when I woke up around 5:30 a.m. with a song of gratitude filling my heart. The night before, after my bedtime prayer, I couldn't sleep. I found myself reflecting on all the times God preserved me from near-accidents during difficult seasons, to completing my academic program. His hand has been evident.

These past few months have been a roller coaster of emotions, but the last week of June 2025 felt like God whispering, "I have not forgotten you." Suddenly, I began receiving back-to-back interview invitations from recruiters. My professors started recommending me to former alumni, and friends who had promised referrals finally reached out with opportunities at their workplaces, even offering guidance on how to stand out in interviews.

Even though I haven't received an offer letter yet, I am filled with peace because I know this is God at work. Like Psalm 138 says, "On the day I called, you answered my strength of soul." Waking up, I felt so grateful that I began singing the song Mi Le by Luigi MacLean, one of the rising young gospel artists in Ghana. The lyrics echo my heart perfectly: I know. I know what you've done for me. Grace upon grace, Peace of mind, You give me joy, You always make a way.

That morning, I prayed a simple prayer of thanksgiving, holding on to this truth: "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me." When I look back on near misses, unanswered questions, and moments when nothing seemed to be working, I realize that God was stretching out His hand to deliver me, just as the psalm declares: "You stretch out Your hand, and Your right hand delivers me."

Gratitude is a key ingredient in the life of every believer. If you want God to keep moving in your story, learn to appreciate every little thing He does, even the doors He is still preparing to open. I am reminded that God's timing is perfect, and His steadfast love endures forever.

So I am choosing to stand firm in faith. I am trusting God to move like a mighty rushing wind in the coming weeks. Even without an offer letter yet, I can say with confidence: If God is all I have, He truly is all that I need.

"The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands" (Psalm 138:8).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You and I adore You. I thank You for always making a way and for surrounding me with songs of deliverance and thanksgiving. I trust You, even in the waiting. Please strengthen my soul, fulfill Your purpose in my life, and may my heart never forget to praise You. Amen.

Michaelina Dawson-Otoo

5 Comments

Census-Related Questions

22/7/2025

0 Comments

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:
Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Genesis
18.20-32

The Lord said: “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.”

So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.”

Abraham answered, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

Again Abraham spoke to the Lord, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”

Then Abraham said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” The Lord answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”

Abraham said, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” The Lord answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.”

Then Abraham said, “Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.” The Lord answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I wonder what the population of Sodom was at the time of these events. What percentage of the people was Abraham counting on being found righteous to save the city? And, in connection with this, how many righteous people would God find here in Halifax? If Abraham were to plead with God on our behalf, what number should he start with? Are we hoping for ten percent? One percent? What kind of percentage is enough, and what kind of expectations would we have for our city, our province, our country?

And then, of course, the harder question: Who counts as a righteous person? Would I be one of the 10 needed to save the city? “Righteous” has somewhat negative connotations in our current common language; it makes us think of the Pharisees and a sort of “holier-than-thou” attitude. So maybe it would be better to say “holy” instead. How many holy people are there in Halifax? Can any of us lay claim to that title for ourselves, when we daily pray to our Father and ask Him to “lead us not into temptation”?

Luckily, the answer to all my ridiculous questions is very simple, and we all know it already. How many righteous people are required to save anyone? Only one, and He has already done all the saving required. Salvation doesn’t depend on my being righteous or even being holy. It depends on Jesus Christ, the perfectly righteous one, who died for us. In looking at His Son, God the Father has mercy on all of us, and for the sake of this One, He will never destroy us, but will raise us up to joy and freedom we can only imagine.

Originally posted on July 19, 2022, by Sister Gemma MacLeod

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Run to Jesus

18/7/2025

3 Comments

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, July 20th, 2025:
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke
10.38-42

Now as Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Yikes! How awkward for Martha!

As someone who, like Mary, is more contemplative in nature, I feel vindicated when I read and meditate on this Gospel passage. On further reflection, however, I am convinced that I’m looking at it from the wrong perspective. Let us consider this scripture reading from another point of view.

What if Martha, instead of speaking up, had stewed in her self-pity and let her negative feelings towards Mary fester until the situation led to an emotional confrontation? I sympathize with Martha because I’ve been in her shoes, feeling like a victim whose feelings must be justified. What sets Martha’s reaction apart, however, is the fact that she goes to Jesus with her complaints: “Lord, do you not care?” Our God is a God of dialogue. He wants us to talk to Him. He wants communication from us. Be it praise, thanksgiving, complaints or cries, He is ready to hear it all.

When we approach Him with the intention of communicating with him (prayer), He is ready to tell us what He wants from us, just as he tells Martha, “Mary, has chosen the better part.” Did Martha want to hear this? Probably not. When we open ourselves to an honest dialogue with God, it’s an opportunity not only for us to be open to Him but for Him to be honest with us. We may not always like what He prompts us to do but, rest assured, total peace lies in a complete surrender to His will for our lives.

So, in the Gospel passage above, while Mary does what Jesus wants by sitting at His feet and listening intently to Him, so does Martha do what Jesus wants by going to Him in her “worried and distracted” state – and so should we!

Lord Jesus, you are my Builder and my Bridegroom! No one knows me as intimately as you do. Help me never to hesitate to run to you in my distress or in my ecstasy. Jesus, I trust in you.

Rebecca D'Mello

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Skimming the Surface

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

If God Is All You Have, Then He’s All That You Need

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Census-Related Questions

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

​Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Run to Jesus

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, July 20th, 2025:​Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:
Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:
Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, July 27th, 2025:
Seventheenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, July 20th, 2025:
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time