Tuesday 26 May 2026 - The last will be first

Saturday 27 June 2026 - Gratitude and prayer

Saturday 27 June 2026 Welcome to the Saturday Examen. You may like to take a little longer to prepare yourself for prayer today. So, take a moment to allow yourself to feel comfortable wherever you are. What do you need to be at home with the Lord and feel comfortable? Become aware of the rhythm of your breathing. If you are feeling anxious about something, acknowledge this with the Lord who already knows, understands and welcomes you with whatever you bring to prayer today. Continue to breathe slowly and imagine that you are beginning to come to rest in the Lord’s loving presence. You may like to imagine that you are leaning on him. We will read through a selection of verses from this week’s scripture passages. You may use these to jog your memory, or perhaps just notice which verse most speaks to you today. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed.  Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose.” As you sit with the Lord today, share any memories from your prayer times this week, or reflect on the verse that most speaks to you today. Now call to mind some of the moments in the past week. Which moment most stands out to you as being a life-giving moment? Which moment stands out as being a life-draining moment? Offer these moments to the Lord in gratitude and prayer. For the remaining time in prayer, focus once again on your breathing and simply let the Lord surround you with his loving presence. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Friday 26 June 2026 - Be made clean

Friday 26 June 2026 Today is Friday the 26th of June, in the 12th week of Ordinary Time. Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Inhliziyo Zethu’: ‘You will make my heart pure’. A pure heart is a heart that is open to God, that doesn’t seek its own advantage, but wants whatever God wants. As I enter into prayer today, I ask for that openness of heart. I ask the Lord to lead my heart to him, to guide me in the way he wants me to go. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 8:1-4 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ Try to picture this man with leprosy now...his appearance...his garments...his posture...his diseased skin...how do his isolation and suffering show on his face? ‘The leper came to Jesus and knelt before him.’ Now picture Jesus with the leper, knelt at his feet... How does Jesus welcome him?... Look at him?... Perhaps touch him?... Gaze upon this scene for a moment with your heart. The leper asks, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ As the reading is read again, continue to watch the scene, noticing what most moves you. Matthew 8:1-4 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ Jesus says to the leper, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ Perhaps there is something you would like to ask of Jesus today. In the quiet, bring your own requests to his feet as you pray. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Thursday 25 June 2026 - The house of your faith

Thursday 25 June 2026 Today is Thursday the 25th of June, in the 12th week of Ordinary Time. 'In God alone is my soul at rest. He alone is my rock, my strength.' There are probably things on my mind as I try to pray, right now. Things bothering me, worrying me, things I’ve got to do. Those hassles and concerns may be important. But for these few minutes, can I just put them on one side, and find a moment of peace for my soul? A moment of rest with my God, my rock, my strength? Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 7:21-29 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. We might have been familiar with the house on the rock parable since childhood, but today we are going to reflect on this parable of Jesus as if we were doing an examen. Reflect on your life recently. When did you most hear and act on the wise words of Jesus? Maybe you can recall a moment of consolation, as if the house of your faith was built on a rock. When recently have you not acted on Jesus’s words, perhaps leaning on your own understanding only? Maybe there was a feeling of your house collapsing under the buffeting of the rain and wind when your circumstances were challenging. Or perhaps you feared this happening. As we hear the reading again, offer these times, times of wisdom and times of foolishness, to God and his loving mercy... Matthew 7:21-29 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’ Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. As we prepare to end our time of prayer, offer your gift of faith to the Lord, whether you feel that it’s built on the sand or on rock at present. Let him see your heart and listen for his voice. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Wednesday 24 June 2026 - His name is John

Wednesday 24 June 2026 Today is Wednesday the 24th of June, the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, in the 12th week of Ordinary Time. Salt of the Sound sings, ‘How Great Thou Art’. As you come to prayer today, recall the things for which you are grateful to God. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow in humble adoration And there proclaim: "My God, how great thou art!" Then sings my soul, my Saviour-God, to thee How great thou art! How great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour-God, to thee How great thou art! How great thou art! Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. We will only hear the passage once through today, followed by an imaginative contemplation exercise, so prepare to step into the scene... Luke 1:57-66, 80 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. Today we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist, and our reading reminds us of some of the extraordinary and surprising events surrounding John’s birth. As you begin your time of prayer, try to picture the hill country of Judea with its green, sloping hills and pine forests. Imagine Elizabeth and Zechariah in their house, holding their baby. Listen to their conversation... then the exclamations of joy and the delight of the neighbours and relatives as they come to wish them well. What is it like to become part of this scene? Perhaps there is someone in the home with whom you would like to have a conversation. We now imagine that we join the family for the circumcision ceremony of John. We remember that Zechariah has been mute for nine months, so picture him now as he struggles to communicate by gestures and writing the name of the child. ‘His name is John.’ Imagine that you hear Zechariah recovering his voice and listen as he begins to praise God. What reactions do you see among his family and guests? ‘All these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.  All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?’ In your prayer now, offer your own praise to God as you recall the life and ministry of John. What would you like to especially give thanks for? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Tuesday 23 June 2026 - The gate is narrow

Tuesday 23 June 2026 Today is Tuesday the 23rd of June, in the 12th week of Ordinary Time. 'Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.' The most important thing for me to do now, as I enter into prayer, is to let go for a moment, to let go of my own concerns, my own worries and fears and reluctance, and let myself be led by God, trusting that God, who loves me, will lead me into life. Bless the Lord, my soul and bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul who leads me into life. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 7:6, 12-14 ‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. ‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.’ In today’s reading, Jesus is teaching his disciples on the mountain, delivering the Sermon on the Mount. The first two sentences relate to how we relate to others: the first about taking care, and the second about serving one another.... ‘Do not throw your pearls before swine’ Jesus instructs his disciples.... What gifts from God would you regard as your pearls? Can you recall a time when you shared these with someone and felt they were badly received, or even trampled on? Try to recall how this felt. Jesus also teaches, ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.’ This is sometimes known as the ‘golden rule’. Reflect on this, perhaps calling to mind a way in which this teaching of Jesus shapes your own life and the lives of those around you. As you listen to the scripture again, notice which of these instructions you find to be the most challenging. Matthew 7:6, 12-14 ‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. ‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.’ Our reading today ends with Jesus presenting us with a choice of either the wide gate that leads to destruction or the narrow gate which leads to life. Take a few moments to imagine these two gates and the paths and choices they present. What has most struck you today in this time of prayer? Share your thoughts with the Lord now. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen