Presence

Dear Lord, You have called me by my name.
You have carved me in the palm of Your hand.
May I grow in trust and never give in to despair.

Freedom

Lord, may I never take the gift of freedom for granted.
You gave me the great blessing of freedom of spirit.
Fill my spirit with Your peace and Your joy.

Consciousness

Lord, You gave me the night to rest in sleep.
In my waking hours may I not forget Your goodness to me.
Guide me to share Your blessings with others.

The Word of God

³⁵James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” ³⁷And they said to him, “Appoint us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” ³⁸But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” ³⁹They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized you will be baptized, ⁴⁰but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to appoint, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

⁴¹When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. ⁴²So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. ⁴³But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Inspiration

Jesus heard the ambition of James and John but he challenged them to redirect it. May our ambitions, which give us energy, be channelled to the glory of God.

All the apostles struggled with following Jesus, as they all had their own issues and shortcomings, as we all do. Jesus sought to bring them beyond self-interest to be ‘people for others’. Lord, may we imitate you, who came to serve and offered your life freely for us.

Conversation

Sometimes I wonder what I might say if I were to meet You in person, Lord.
I think I might say “Thank You, Lord” for always being there for me.
I know with certainty there were times when You carried me, Lord,
when it was through Your strength that I got through the dark times in my life.

Conclusion

I thank God for these few moments we have spent alone together and for any insights I may have been given concerning the text.

Amen