Presence

The peace of God is the treasure of treasures, “the pearl of great price” – Lord, may I experience this peace right now, in Your holy presence.

Freedom

Thank You God for my freedom.
May I use this gift to do what I can
for those who are oppressed or burdened.

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

¹⁸Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, ¹⁹“Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. ²⁰There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children, ²¹and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children, and the third likewise; ²²none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. ²³In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”

²⁴Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? ²⁵For when people rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. ²⁶And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? ²⁷He is God not of the dead but of the living; you are quite wrong.”

Inspiration

You may be tempted to ask, ‘How is this relevant to my life in the world today? Frequently, the disciples, the Sadducees and the crowds who heard Jesus speak failed to understand his meaning. Often, after they questioned him, the people seemed to be no wiser. How do you think people reacted when Jesus said, ‘You know neither the scriptures nor the power of God’? How would you react if you were there and this question was asked of you? Talk to God about the thoughts and feelings that come up in you.

Conversation

Conversation requires talking and listening.
As I talk to Jesus may I also learn to be still and listen.
I picture the gentleness in His eyes
and the smile full of love as He gazes on me.
I can be totally honest with Jesus as I tell Him of my worries and my cares.
I will open up my heart to Him as I tell Him of my fears and my doubts.
I will ask Him to help me to place myself fully in His care,
to abandon myself to Him,
knowing that He always wants what is best for me.

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