Presence

The more we call on the Lord, the more we can feel His presence. Day by day, He draws us closer to His loving heart.

Freedom

Lord, You created me to live in freedom.
Mostly I take this gift for granted.
Inspire me to live in the freedom You intended,
with a heart untroubled and with complete trust in You.

Consciousness

Dear Lord, open me to hear and receive Your Word today. May it bear much fruit in my life, and in the lives of others.

The Word of God

¹⁴Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. ¹⁵But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” ¹⁶Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. ¹⁷But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?—for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. ²²But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. ²³Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Inspiration

The sheer logic of Christ’s argument should have been enough to make his opponents reflect on their own position. However, for their own selfish reasons they did not want to be with him. Let us pray to grasp more deeply our own littleness and lack of understanding.

In the gospels Jesus cast out many evil spirits. Pope Francis has agreed that we can change the translation at the end of the Our Father, so I now find it more helpful to say, ‘And lead us in time of temptation and deliver us from the evil one.’ The image of our God leading us by the hand can be very helpful in our prayer. It is mentioned in Psalms 63 and 72, and in Mark 8:23, when Jesus leads the blind man by the hand out of the village at Bethsaida.

Conversation

Do I notice myself reacting as I pray with the Word of God?
Do I feel challenged, comforted, angry?
Imagining Jesus sitting or standing near me,
I speak out my feelings, as one trusted friend to another.

Conclusion

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

Amen