the most of every opportunity

Today in the One Year Bible, Paul gives us good advice about what we should be doing here, today, in 2018. We read from Ephesians 5:1-33. Paul says, "Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Does that ring any bells? Active shooters killing children so often that we barely notice it in the news anymore. Sex scandals rocking every church. So much hatred billowing from the right toward the left, and the left toward the right. The US has never been more polarized on almost every issue. Civil rights issues that we thought were settled in the 60's are now blowing up every day, with Neo-Nazis regrouping and self professed pedophiles running for office.

What can we do in the midst of all this darkness? Like St Therese of Liseux and St Teresa of Calcutta (aka Mother Teresa) both said, it doesn't matter as much WHAT we do, as much as that we do the littlest things with great love. Love your neighbor. Love your family. Love the homeless. Love your enemy. And by love, we don't mean have warm, fuzzy feelings about them. We mean help them. Pray for them. Give them what they need to have healthy, productive lives. Feed the hungry. Shelter and clothe the naked. Visit the sick and imprisoned.

The times are dark. But in all of them, whether we live in the US in 2018 or in Auschwitz in 1944, we can make the most of every opportunity. We can reach out in love and make someone's life better.

Who will you reach out to today?

God, thanks for calling us to make the most of every opportunity. Please show us how.