Presence

God, You are nearer than I dare believe, closer than my own breath. I am blessed by Your Intimate Nearness, and I need not fear.

Freedom

Lord you gave me life and the gift of freedom.
Through Your Love I exist in this world.
May I never take the gift of life for granted.
May I always respect the right to life of others.

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

¹In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, ²during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, ⁴as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.

⁵Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, ⁶and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”

Inspiration

St Luke, writing for the gentile world, announces the beginning of the public ministry of John the Baptist, the last of the prophets before Christ. He is to prepare the way for the Messiah through hearts that are purified by their repentance for their sins. Only hearts that have turned away from sinful ways can receive the message of the Good News.

John the Baptist attracts a large following by his preaching and by his witnessing to a simple and austere life. Are we willing to make changes in our lifestyle to be more open to the message of Christ?

Conversation

Lord, You have engraved my name
on the palm of Your hand.
Even if others forget me,
You never will.

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