Presence

Lord, thank you for being my companion on life’s journey, each day, and in each moment, including this one. Help me to tune in to your presence now…

Scripture

Romans 13:7-8

⁷ Pay to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. ⁸ Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Reflection

How do I get away with paying fewer taxes? How do I get a cheaper deal? Why do I have to pay someone so much to do something for me? It seems as if we’re spending way too much time trying to find ways around paying our dues. Financial dues and relationship dues. Talking badly about our boss. Speaking disrespectfully about the police, medical staff, our politicians, or even our partners is all too prevalent. We need to step up and pay our dues instead of looking for ways to avoid them. The only debt we can never fully repay, the one we will owe forever, is the debt to love one another.

Closing prayer

Dear God, if I am shirking my dues, give me the courage to face up to it and set things right.  Help me live my faith.  Amen.