First Saturday of Advent
– You can ponder on the picture. For a method of praying with pictures click button below.
– You can pray on the words of Scripture. For methods of praying with scripture click button below.
– You can follow the suggestions in the daily ‘Reflection’.
– You can listen to the music
Today’s Scripture
Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8 (WEB)
Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were harassed and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out labourers into his harvest.”
He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans. Rather, go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
Reflection
Look through the eyes of Jesus as He walks through your own neighbourhood, witnessing the silent exhaustion, anxiety, and loneliness of the people around you. Feel the deep, aching compassion of His heart for you and for the world (“splagchnizomai” is the greek word used in Scripture of Jesus’ compassion – it means moved to the very gut.) He doesn’t just pity the harvest; He turns to you, binds your wounds, and hands you the authority to go out and freely give that same mercy, compassion and healing to others.
Grace to Ask For: A heart that feels the deep compassion of Christ for a broken world.
Examen: Did I view the difficult or “troubled” people I crossed paths with today with judgment, or with the eyes of the Good Shepherd?
Today’s Music
Freely, Freely You have received. Freely, Freely give …by carol Owens