Presence

I slow myself down for a moment, and try to realise that God is present,
To me, here and now. He is present in what I do,
in the people that I meet, and the situations I find myself in daily.
I become present to the One who is always present to me.

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

Conscious of Your presence, Lord,
I look over my recent past.
Let me be honest with myself about how I’ve been
and what I’ve done,
because I know You love truth in the heart
and accept me just as I am.

The Word of God

¹Meanwhile, when the crowd had gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. ²Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. ³Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.

⁴“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do nothing more. ⁵But I will show you whom to fear: fear the one who, after killing, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear that one! ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. ⁷But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Inspiration

Yet again Jesus calls us not to be afraid for our God who loves us and holds us in his hands at every instant. Those who persecute others for their beliefs can never take away our freedom to choose, even if they kill the body. Every human being is precious in God’s eyes, including those who injure us or differ from us in religion. God alone sees the heart and God alone can judge rightly. Let us pray to see people as God sees them, and for tolerance in our broken world.

Conversation

The gift of speech is a wonderful gift.
May I use this gift with kindness.
May I be slow to utter harsh words,
hurtful words, and words spoken in anger.

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