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

By God’s grace I was born to live in freedom,
free to enjoy the pleasures He created for me.
Dear Lord, grant that I may live as You intended,
with complete confidence in Your loving care.

Consciousness

We all need to take time out from our daily chores.
We know that our bodies need a rest.
When we come into Your presence, Lord,
our hearts and minds are refreshed, our spirits lifted.

The Word of God

²³When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’ ²⁶But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for all regard John as a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Inspiration

In the gospel, Jesus is asked by the religious leaders by whose authority he acts the way he does. Who gave him this authority, they wonder? We already know the answers to these questions because just before this passage, we find Jesus driving out the moneylenders and tradesmen from God’s house. He acts on his Father’s authority. 

Where in our lives do we allow the sacred to be diminished by day-to-day affairs?

Conversation

Lord, help me to connect with You. I don’t always know how, but I want to receive Your love and I open my hands and my heart to You. Please come to me today.

Conclusion

Filled with the loving presence of God,
I ask Him to bless me and guide my steps
as I go to do His work in my daily life.

Amen