Today's Gospel is Mark 1: 21-28.
Today in our liturgy, we have talked about how we listen to God because, when he speaks, he does it with authority: it is clear he knows what he is talking about. this is shown in how he speaks to us, and this makes us want to listen to him. w are eager to know what he is telling us.
 
There are a lot of people in our world who have authority and we listen to them because of the way in which they talk to us.
 
We have thought about all the people whom we think have authority and whom we like to listen to.
 
We listen to doctors. Sometimes we put our lives in their hands.
We listen to our teachers (most of the time). They teach us about lots of things that we know will help us get good jobs when we are older.
We listen to our priest. Father John explains Bible stories to us in a way we may never understand without him.
We listen to our parents. Their experiences of life are always important for us to listen to and learn from.
 
We have placed all the hands of these people into God's hands.
We know that God will always guide, support and care for everybody, and he holds us all in his hands.
 
He has got the whole world in his hands.
 
We thank God for people with authority and power and pray they may always guide us well in their knowledge and wisdom.

 
Dear God, you have authority and power that make us want to listen to you. Thank you for creating our world and for keeping all things safe in your hands.
help us listen to you always. Amen.