Presence

I slow myself down for a moment, and try to realise that God is present,
To me, here and now. He is present in what I do,
in the people that I meet, and the situations I find myself in daily.
I become present to the One who is always present to me.

Freedom

Everything has the potential to draw forth from me a fuller love and life.
Yet my desires are often fixed, caught, on illusions of fulfillment.
I ask that You, God, through my freedom, may orchestrate my desires
in a vibrant, loving melody, rich in harmony, fulfilling Your will through me.

Consciousness

Lord, You are present in all things
and when I take time to simply sit and be with You,
my mind rests
and I feel Your peace.

The Word of God

⁶⁷Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David, ⁷⁰as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. ⁷²Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and has remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. ⁷⁸Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Inspiration

Zechariah had served his God faithfully in his ministry in the temple. At this initiation rite for his son John, Zechariah’s voice is restored to him, and his mind is enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Each of us is also called to a life of fidelity to our God, and we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to lead us. How open are we to that same Spirit and do we frequently ask his help in our prayer?

Conversation

I begin to talk to Jesus about the piece of scripture I have just read.
What part of it strikes a chord in me?
Perhaps the words of a friend, or some story I have heard recently, or some experience,
will slowly rise to the surface of my consciousness.
If so, does this memory throw light on what the scripture passage may be trying to say to me?

Conclusion

Filled with the loving presence of God,
I ask Him to bless me and guide my steps
as I go to do His work in my daily life.

Amen