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

Lord, guide me always
to do Your holy will,
knowing that Your strength
will carry me through.

Consciousness

Knowing that God loves me unconditionally,
I look honestly over the last day, its events and my feelings.
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

²²“The Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

²³Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. ²⁵For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves?

Inspiration

Jesus would have been familiar with the account of the suffering servant in Isaiah 52. Knowing that he was destined to suffer and be killed must have been a heavy burden to carry. We can talk to him about this and ask for some of his courage in facing our own crosses.

A disciple cannot be above his/her Master. As Christ suffered, so will those who follow him, but the suffering will be different and unique to each one. As writer Alan Jones put it, ‘Life is about being dispossessed of everything so that we might possess everything.’ We have to lose the false life that is centred on our ego. We pray for insight and the courage to accept our crosses.

Conversation

What graces does God want to bestow on me in this time of prayer? If I listen deep inside, in the quiet of my heart, what is the Lord saying to me there?

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