Presence

Lord, you are always there waiting for me. 
May I never be too busy to find time to spend in your presence.

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

Grant, O Lord, that I may be conscious and grateful for all the good things you have given to me.
May I always share my blessings with others.

The Word of God       Matthew 12:46-50

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Some thoughts on today's scripture

• Jesus’ words might seem to be rather abrupt but his message is really that to be a follower of Jesus is to belong to a new family. This is a family with stronger ties than flesh and blood, bound in love and obedience to God. Part of this new way of living is a calling to love others unconditionally. Our family members are most definitely very important to us but so are those on the fringes of society since we are now part of the wider family of God.
• Even though Mary was standing ‘outside’ with those who may indeed have been outsiders, she herself was always very close to God.       Having given her assent to God as a young girl, she never once withdrew from this calling. She was with her son, and her God, in every way.
• Mary knew her own value in her being and in her doing. I ask God to affirm me in who I am and in what I do that I may always live as a faithful member of Jesus’ family.

Conversation

Lord, you have engraved my name
on the palm of your hand.
Even if others forget me,
you never will.

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.