Presence

As I enter this time of prayer, I become aware of my breath that is God’s life-sustaining gift to me. I allow myself to breathe a little more slowly, deeply and gently for a couple of moments.

Freedom

“I am free.”
When I look at these words in writing,
they seem to create in me a feeling of awe.
Yes, a wonderful feeling of freedom.
Thank You, God.

Consciousness

Jesus, thank You for this moment where I am conscious of Your presence with me. Help me to be more and more aware of Your presence in my daily life, and in everyone I meet.

The Word of God

¹After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

²Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. ³In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. ⁵One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” ⁷The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.” ⁸Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” ⁹At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Now that day was a Sabbath.

¹⁰So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” ¹¹But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’ ” ¹²They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” ¹³Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. ¹⁴Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” ¹⁵The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. ¹⁶Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the Sabbath.

Inspiration

The fact that Jesus asked the invalid if he wanted to be cured showed great sensitivity. An invalid for almost forty years, he would face many big changes in his life if suddenly made well again. We should be careful with what we ask for in prayer. The request of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane was followed each time with, ‘Yet not my will but thine be done.’ Let us ask God to give us whatever he knows is best for us.

The Jewish religious leaders made many laws that they claimed were to honour God but in reality were to give themselves authority and control over people’s lives. Jesus, knowing their hypocrisy, ignored these laws. Our human laws should always be motivated by love and compassion for the welfare of all. In my dealings with others do I put human laws above the good of others? Do I season justice with mercy?

Conversation

How has God’s Word moved me?
Has it left me cold?
Has it consoled me or moved me to act in a new way?
I imagine Jesus standing or sitting beside me and
I turn and share my feelings with Him.

Conclusion

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

Amen