Welcome to Week 3 Day 1
As we begin a new week of prayer, it is good to remember to enter into the time of meditative prayer with a spirit of quiet and relaxation. Let the mystery of God be near you, and let yourself be open to God’s gift of the Spirit.
OT Isaiah 58:6-10 Setting the oppressed free.
NT Matthew 25:31 For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat.
Introduction
GUIDE
Presence: Take two deep cleansing breaths, remembering that God is the giver of life. “Here I am God. Thank you for your presence.”
Read Matthew 25:31-46 once quietly and once aloud.
Lectio Divina:What words or phrases are highlighted for you as you read? Take those words or phrases to God in prayer. What is God saying to you through these words or phrases? What is God’s invitation to you today?
After prayer, reflect on your life, in light of the word or phrase God brought to your attention. Take your reflections to God in prayer.
Read Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Journal your prayer and experience of this time.
RDL 2018 WK3 Day1