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There are many voices, many conflicting thoughts and words. But today Lord I am reminded of Your words to us, *My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.” And through my own past experience, I know this rings true even from the mouths of those You have sent. For your peace and love is upon us.

In everything and any situation let our hearts cry out to You. For You O Lord are our refuge. Amen

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 11:18–20

GOSPEL
John 7:40–53

Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Then each went to his own house.

Don’t go seeking for a spiritual high instead search for the heart of God.  There is no fixed format of prayer and worship songs that will be bring you closer to Him nor is there is anything You can do to merit His Grace. All you ever need is a sincere contrite heart opened and attentive and He will speak to you; often in the quiet.

We are oftentimes too ‘wise’ for our own good! We are

quick to deduce what we can see, sometimes without looking below the surface. We pride ourselves in our logical ability to process intricate and detailed information often to such a degree we miss the beauty of the big picture. We may never know what we are missing or have lost.

So it is with knowing and understanding God, our wisdom can only take us so far. It is only through the eyes of faith do we truly see; for then knowing and understanding God becomes a living and loving experience. An intimate relationship taking us far beyond what we can ever hope to imagine.

Lord Jesus, help me overcome all that prevents me from entering into a deeper loving relationship with You. Allow me to grow in love and charity for my brethren and all You send my way. Amen

FIRST READING
Wisdom 2:1a, 12–22

GOSPEL
John 7:1–2, 10, 25–30

Jesus moved about within Galilee;
he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret.

Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.