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PRAY NOW: TODAY'S PRAYER
Solitude
And after he dismissed the crowds he went the mountain by himself to pray.
Matthew 14:23
Prayer
God,
sometimes like your Son,
I need to be alone;
to let things sink in,
to get my head around what has happened,
to work things out,
to let things. . .
and me
be.
God,
Sometimes like your Son,
I endure desert places,
on my own,
alone in a bewildering landscape with no cairns or signposts
to orientate or point the way.
God,
Sometimes like your Son,
I find moments. . .
in amongst the crowd,
in amongst the daily tasks
in amongst the chatter and noise. . .
life-enhancing moments
when we connect
You and me.
God,
Sometimes like your Son,
I feel alone and afraid,
even in the company of friends.
Friends who mean well,
who care but don't understand
or don't have the energy,
courage or insight
to wait with me.
God,
Sometimes like your Son,
I manage to get the balance
when being in solitude with You
is part of my daily and weekly rhythm.
God,
These are times in my life, real times.
May I know these are times in your Son's life too. AMEN.
Readings
John 4:1–11 Temptation of Jesus
Luke 9:18 Jesus praying by himself in the company of his disciples
Matthew 26:36–45 Jesus seeks company in his solitude
Prayer (or Pre-prayer) activity
'What we need,' wrote Thomas Merton in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, 'is
to trifle and vegetate without feeling guilty about it.' In our weekly rhythm we
need periods of passivity as well as activity. Going from work, church activities,
caring for others and household chores to the other extreme of stillness, silence
and prayer is far from easy. Making time to 'chill out' or 'veg' is not just about
relaxing and unwinding; it is also preparation for prayer. Make time today to do
nothing but watch the television, read, listen to music or watch the view from a
window. Now pray.
Prayer for the Church
Remembering those who often feel they live on the fringe of society and are fearful
for their well-being, sometimes because we exclude them, wittingly or otherwise, from
our fellowship
especially the work of the HIV/AIDS project group and those who live with this
condition in their own bodies, or amongst those whom they love.
Blessing
In our relating and our doing,
In our unwinding and relaxing
In our solitude and struggling
God's blessing.
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