Presence

I remind myself that, as I sit here now,
God is gazing on me with love and holding me in being.
I pause for a moment and think of this.

Freedom

I ask for the grace
to let go of my own concerns
and be open to what God is asking of me,
to let myself be guided and formed by my loving Creator.

Consciousness

Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me during this time of prayer. Through You, may I come to know that I am a beloved child of God.

The Word of God

⁴²“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. ⁴³Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves on which people unknowingly walk.”

⁴⁵One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too.” ⁴⁶And he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them.

Inspiration

When too much attention is given to details, the bigger picture can be obscured. This is true in a particular way when too much self-interest is involved. Lord, help us to retain a sense of perspective so that you can be the centre of our attention.

Those who were focused on the law, in this case the religious laws, were caught in their external application without appreciating what they were for. May we have clarity on the end goal so that we can lighten the burdens of others and not impose undue obligations on them.

Conversation

What feelings, questions, doubts or inspirations does today’s Gospel stir in me? Can I bring all that I am feeling and thinking to Jesus, in the comforting knowledge that He is really here with me?

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Amen