Presence

I pause for a moment
and think of the love and the grace
that God showers on me,
creating me in His image and likeness,
making me His temple….

Freedom

Lord, like Saint Ignatius, I offer you my memory, understanding,
my entire will. All I ask for in return is Your love and Your grace – that’s enough for me.

Consciousness

Father, thank You for sending Your Son to earth to be with me in every experience I have. Thank You that He is with me in a special way in this time of prayer and through Your Word.

The Word of God

²⁷Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him ²⁸and said, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?” ²⁹Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.” ³¹They argued with one another, “What should we say? If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ³²But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. ³³So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Inspiration

When they put their minds to it, the Pharisees had a great talent for setting people against each other. They tried to engage Jesus in discourse and unrest, but he turned the trouble back on them. When we feel ourselves producing more disharmony than concord, we pray that you may give us the wisdom, which you yourself displayed so often, to create goodwill and benevolence instead of strife.

Conversation

Dear Lord, help me each day
to seek Your presence more and more.
Fill my heart with love for You.

Conclusion

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

Amen