Morning Prayer
Luke 3: 21 – 22 Jesus is baptized
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Reflection
Jesus is baptized by John and as such is his disciple even though John recognizes him to be the Messiah. Both were Spirit-led and so followed their leading. Jesus humbles himself as part of humankind, part of the fallen nation of Israel, to accept John’s baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming of the kingdom. The Holy Spirit comes down upon him to transform and prepare him for ministry.
Imagine having learned to walk with a very strong sense of what God has chosen you for and then feeling led to be baptized by your cousin, John the Baptist. Imagine then the revelation and blessing when the Holy Spirit descended on him, making him not only a prophet but gifting him with the words “You are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased!” It would take a long time to recover and become one with such an experience.
Would that we could follow the Spirit’s leading, to be so focused on His path for us that we could act against all human understanding. That through our actions we could open the way for God’s kingdom to grow.
Lord Holy Spirit, fill us followers of Jesus that we might fulfil our Heavenly Father, our Abba’s intentions in this day and age and always. Amen.
Noon Day Prayers Question
We have a prodigal father, always waiting for us to turn back to His loving arms, always delighted when we do so, regardless of how much we may have messed up. Following the Spirit’s guidance, Jesus did as His Abba wanted him to do and was rewarded by “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased!”
We live always in the presence of our creator, our loving parent, our Abba. Take a moment to be silent and conscious. Then hear your creator say to you, “You are my child, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” How do you feel now?
Take this feeling into the rest of your day!
Evening Prayer
Luke 3: 15 – 20 And so it goes with prophets
The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them. But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
Reflection
John, filled with Spirit while still in his mother’s womb, was a great prophet, the messenger sent ahead of the Messiah. But as was the case with other prophets, those in authority could not stand the truth-telling and prison or death was often the fate of these prophets. Pray that you do not find yourself in the position of truth-teller to Authority.
But more than this, pray for the strength and grace in your weakness to be the channel for whatever you are called to do or say. Today more than ever, followers of Jesus are needed to speak their truth with conviction and compassion. Know that if you find yourself moved by the Spirit to speak out, you will be given the words to say!*
*Luke 12:12