Please read today’s proclamations after invoking the Holy Spirit. Prayerful Awareness Daniel was a young man, among the Jews taken captive to Babylon. He finds favor with the Royalty and is appointed as the chief advisor to the king. He discovers in the writings of prophet Jeremiah, that the Babylonian captivity was prophesied- we read in Daniel 9:2 – in the first year of his reign, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years which, according to the Word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the desolation of Jerusalem, namely seventy years.
Gaze at Jesus Imagine the young man Jesus reading the first proclamation in His youth (prior to starting His public ministry) Lord, did You appreciate Daniel, delving into the scriptures and then pleading for his people through prayer and fasting? Did You get permission from Your parents and leave for the desert to meet Your cousin John, in order to get deeper insights? Did You both appreciate the way the Holy Spirit speaks to true seekers of truth? As You fellowshipped; did John receive another special anointing of the Holy Spirit, like the one he received while both of You where in Your mothers’ wombs. Was it this anointing that caused him to say “I baptize you with water, but that you will baptize with the Holy Spirit”?
Gaze at my sonship What importance do I give to the study of the Holy Scripture? Do I meditate on selected verses and permit the Holy Spirit to teach me? Shall we take today’s Gospel proclamation and perceive what the Holy Spirit is telling you and me? Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful; judge not and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
Prayer Starter Lord I know that meditating on Your written word is one of the best ways available to hear Your voice. Please help me to commit my time to reading Your Holy Word.
