Today is September 14
Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Take a moment and quiet yourself.
Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”
Today’s reading is from the gospel of Matthew, chapter 12.
1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Can you imagine all of the moments like this that Jesus had with his disicples...? Can you imagine what it was like to watch Jesus engage with the Pharisees, answering their questions and accusations? Put yourself in the shoes of Jesus’ disciples, and imagine watching this encounter. What feelings would it stir up in you?
Jesus tells the religious rulers: “something greater than the temple is here”. He is speaking of Himself, and the Kingdom of God. Listen to the passage again, and pay attention to what word or phrase stands out to you.
The disciples walked with Jesus in their day-to-day lives, watching him and learning from him. Are you connected to Jesus in that kind of way? Do you look for him, prayerfully, throughout your day? Do you wonder how he might respond to experiences you find yourself in? As you end your time of prayer, ask God to help you grow in your day-to-day connection with him.
Music Credit:
"Anything and Everything" - Heaven & Earth (YouTube)
