Presence

Lord, when I am feeling lonely,
remind me of Your promise,
“You are never alone,
I am with you always,
yes, to the end of time.” (Matthew 28:20)

Freedom

If God were trying to tell me something, would I know?
If God were reassuring me or challenging me, would I notice?
I ask for the grace to be free of my own preoccupations
and open to what God may be saying to me.

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

⁵⁴He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and so it happens. ⁵⁵And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

⁵⁷“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸Thus when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to reach a settlement, or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. ⁵⁹I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

Inspiration

Jesus rebuked the crowds who knew how to interpret the weather but who missed what was right in front of them. He taught that God’s kingdom had come. The crowds who followed him saw the signs and miracles he performed. He called them hypocrites because they were open to the ways of the world. They had the intelligence to know that it was better to settle a case before it went to court, but their minds were closed about spiritual things. 

Conversation

Lord, I know that when I turn to You there is no need for words.
You can see into my heart.
You know my desires and You know my needs.
I place myself into Your hands.

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Amen