Presence

I pause for a moment
and reflect on God’s life-giving presence
in every part of my body, in everything around me,
in the whole of my life.

Freedom

“Leave me here freely all alone, in cell where never sunlight shone. Should no one ever speak to me, this golden silence makes me free.” Part of a poem written by a prisoner at Dachau concentration camp.

Consciousness

How do I find myself today?
Where am I with God? With others?
Do I have something to be grateful for? Then I give thanks.
Is there something I am sorry for? Then I ask forgiveness.

The Word of God

²⁹The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ³¹I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³²And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”

Inspiration

John the Baptist was someone who was very attuned to the Holy Spirit. He was blessed by God, who had given him his mission, and the Holy Spirit revealed to him in a special that Jesus was truly the Son of God.

In John’s Gospel (14:21) Jesus has promised that he would reveal himself to us. We pray for the grace to be open to his fulfilment of this promise through our fidelity to daily prayer from the heart.

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

I thank God for His gift of love
as I go forth with joy and hope
to serve His people.

Amen