User Settings

  • Background
  • Fade speed
  • Music
  • Text size
Choose a backgound theme.
Choose the speed the daily prayer fades between stages.
Choose music to play during the daily prayer.
Choose the size of the text for your daily prayer.

Community

When you pray you are not alone. You are part of a global community.

Facebook  Twitter  Instagram  Pinterest

The Nearness of God: Advent Retreat 2020

Sacred Space

Your daily prayer online

Daily Prayer - 2021-01-12

Presence

Dear Lord, help me to be open to you
for this time as I put aside the cares of this world.
Fill my mind with your peace, Your Love.

Freedom

Lord, I let go of the worries, resentments and fears
That I can sometimes hold on to so tightly.
Let me open my hands and my heart to receive freely
All the gifts that I need at this time.

Consciousness

I exist in a web of relationships - links to nature, people, God.
I trace out these links, giving thanks for the life that flows through them.
Some links are twisted or broken: I may feel regret, anger, disappointment.
I pray for the gift of acceptance and forgiveness.

The Word of God

Mark 1:21-28

When the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching - with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Resume Prayer

Some thoughts on today's scripture

Active
Default
  • Battle lines are being drawn here. Jesus, we already know, possesses the Holy Spirit and carries the Good News of God’s love for humankind. The unclean spirit represents whatever forces dominate people and make them less free. Such life-sapping dynamics are found right across human life: in family relationships, in religious teaching, in politics, in economics and so on. All misuse of power is included. We see it everywhere. But for Jesus, power is simply for the service of others, as in this healing scene.
  • Power as humble service is a favourite theme in Mark’s depiction of Jesus. He will die in what seems like a futile effort to eliminate the misuse of power. Here I am being educated into the cost of discipleship. Two questions arise: Do I sometimes try to dominate others? Do I ever protest against domination? I ask to be shown how my behaviour needs to change.
Resume Prayer

Conversation

Dear Lord, stay by my side always.
Gain for me a trusting heart.
Thank you for loving 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

If you appreciated the daily prayer or have any suggestions or insights we will be glad to hear from you.

Consider making a donation here