Presence

Every moment is alive with the glorious presence of God. As I give myself more and more to intimate communion with the One who created me, I find that I simply have no time to worry.

Freedom

Lord, too often I think I am the one in control of my life.
Help me to see that I am powerless over so much.
I ask for the grace to be able to hand over my life to You
and experience the joy of that freedom.

Consciousness

How am I really feeling? Lighthearted? Heavy-hearted?
I may be very much at peace, happy to be here.
Equally, I may be frustrated, worried or angry.
I acknowledge how I really am. It is the real me that the Lord loves.

The Word of God

²³One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields, and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. ²⁴The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” ²⁵And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food, ²⁶how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions?” ²⁷Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, ²⁸so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Inspiration

Jesus in his humanity knows what it is like to be hungry and thirsty and he approves of David’s actions. Our religion should never become a religion of do’s and don’ts but one where we become more and more trusting in our God’s loving providence.

The Jewish manmade rules about keeping the sabbath were a frequent source of disputes between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus always sought the good of people, so the keeping of the sabbath is for our benefit. God is not in need of our worship for his happiness, but we have need of God. We acknowledge this by giving time to prayer.

Conversation

I imagine now one of the Persons of the Trinity before me, Father, Son or Holy Spirit, whoever comes to my imagination most naturally, and I have a heart-to-heart conversation about what I have just read or what I am feeling and experiencing in my life today.

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