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 God, I thank you for the gift of freedom.
Help me to use this gift with integrity.
I am free to make choices.
Help me to choose to follow You,
to live in a Christian way by caring for others.
Remind me to consider always those less fortunate than myself:
the oppressed, the prisoner, those who are not free to worship in public.
Guide me always to seek Your holy will in all the events of my life.

Consciousness

Jesus, You are always there waiting for me.
Grant that I may be still more often,
that I may always desire to spend time in your Presence,
to know Your peace, Your love.

The Word of God

¹⁴Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

¹⁶When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” ²²All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

Inspiration

It was the custom in Jesus’ time for local preachers to be invited to address the people in the synagogue. With great curiosity his former villagers came to listen to him. His gracious words amazed them, but we know from the other versions about this return to Nazareth that jealousy and lack of faith were at work. Do we ever resent the gifts that are given to others, or do we instead give praise and thanks for them?

As we listen to the words of Jesus in the gospels do we receive them with faith and gratitude? The same Jesus who spoke in that synagogue in Nazareth is with us now in prayer.

Conversation

I settle myself once again after hearing the Word of God. What would I like to take with me into my day? What do I want to remember from today’s reading or prayer time?

Conclusion

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

Amen