Pray As You Go - Daily Prayer

Friday 31 October 2025Today is Friday the 31st of October, the feast of Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ, in the 30th week of Ordinary Time. Salt of the Sound sing “Turn your eyes upon Jesus… and the things of the earth will fall strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of the earth Will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace In the light of His glory and grace Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke and we will enter into it imaginatively. Today there will be no repeat reading. Luke 14:1-6 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, ‘Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?’ But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?’ And they could not reply to this. Imagine that you are accompanying Jesus to the meal at the house of a leader of the Pharisees. We hear that the Pharisees were watching him closely. What is it like to be there with Jesus? What is the atmosphere like? Picture now the man with dropsy, just in front of Jesus. Dropsy was the name in those days for oedema, excessive water retention, causing the limbs to swell. The man must have been experiencing great discomfort. As you imagine the appearance of this man, notice the way Jesus looks at him. Now Jesus turns to the Pharisees, asking, ‘Is it lawful to cure people on the Sabbath or not?’ They remain silent. Sit for a few moments with the silence in this room. What, do you think, is not being said? Stand with Jesus and watch him as he takes the man, heals him, then sends him away. Despite the atmosphere around him, Jesus doesn’t seem to worry about what the Pharisees think of him, demonstrating his freedom to heal on the Sabbath, to do only his Father’s will, as he is the Lord of the Sabbath. There might be times we feel judged by others when ministering for the Lord. What would it feel like to be free of concern about this “judgement”? Now watch as Jesus fixes his attention on the Pharisees. Imagine the scene in the room as Jesus poses his question. ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?’  ‘And they could not reply to this’. Stay with the silence in the room a moment longer, noticing the mood. End the time of prayer today, reflecting on your experience in this scripture. What has most struck you or perhaps most moved you during this encounter? 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 30 October 2025Today is Thursday the 30th of October, in the 30th week of Ordinary Time. Good Shepherd Collective sings, ‘Help Me Jesus’. Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Romans 8:31-39 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. In this section of St Paul’s letter to the Romans, we might feel moved by the passion in Paul’s description of the unshakable love that Jesus Christ has for us. These reassuring words were written for Christians living in a society of pagan worship and hostility. ‘Who will separate us from the love of Christ?’ Take a moment to ponder this question in your heart. Perhaps there are people who don’t understand your faith, who mock your beliefs, or maybe you live under threat for being a believer. ‘We are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ How has your faith in Christ been tested? Imagine Paul saying the following words to you: ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ Can you let these words make a difference to you? As you listen to the reading again, remember that Paul, who was no stranger to hardship, was imprisoned in Rome as he conveyed this message of God’s love through Jesus Christ to the Romans. Romans 8:31-39 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. As this time of prayer comes to an end, notice how it feels to know that we need never to be separated from Christ’s love... 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 29 October 2025Today is Wednesday the 29th of October, in the 30th week of Ordinary Time. The community of Taizé sing Dominus Spiritus est: 'The Lord is the Spirit; the Spirit gives life. God is the source of all life, the one in whom we live and move and have our being.' As you look around you now, at any people or signs of life around you, can you sense God’s presence? Can you sense God’s Holy Spirit here? In these people? In these living things? In you? Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Romans 8:26-30 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. St Paul writes, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought’... Take a moment now to bring to God a situation that you would like to pray about but perhaps feel that it’s too difficult to know how exactly to pray, something that seems beyond words. Now, imagine that you quietly hold this situation, or people, or person in your hands before the Lord in silence. As you do so, imagine the Spirit surrounding you and searching the feelings and longings within your heart. Perhaps you can join in with the Spirit and pray with sighs too deep for words. ‘We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.’ As you hear the scripture read again, reflect on a time when you have known these words of St Paul to be true for you. Romans 8:26-30 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. As you end your time of prayer today, return to the situation you’ve been praying for and entrust this to the Lord’s care. 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 28 October 2025Today is Tuesday the 28th of October, the feast of Saints Simon and Jude, in the 30th week of Ordinary Time. The Choir of Westminster Cathedral, directed by James O’Donnell, sing O quam gloriosum by Victoria: ‘How glorious is the kingdom, where all the saints rejoice with Christ.’ O quam gloriosum est regnum, in quo cum Christo gaudent omnes Sancti! Amicti stolis albis, sequuntur Agnum, quocumque ierit. O how glorious is the kingdom in which all the saints rejoice with Christ, clad in robes of white they follow the Lamb wherever he goes. Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God. ‘We are no longer strangers or aliens, but citizens with the saints, members of the household of God’. Can you picture this household, filled with a community of people devoted to God’s kingdom? Take a few moments to imagine this scene. Continue imagining all the saints and apostles in this household. Is there someone you would particularly like to meet and converse with, like a recognised saint or perhaps someone whose guidance you’re grateful for on your journey of faith? Now picture Jesus at the very heart of the household as the cornerstone. What is it like to know that he is there? As you listen to the reading again, watch how the structure of the household has grown right from the beginning when perhaps we were still strangers or aliens. Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God. Paul describes this household as being a dwelling place for God. Pray now for a community of Christian believers known to you, giving thanks to the Lord who dwells among them and within them. 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

Monday 27 October 2025Today is Monday the 27th of October, in the 30th week of Ordinary Time. Paul Zach with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Come, All Who Are Weary’. As you begin your time of prayer today, take some deep breaths and enter into knowledge of God’s love for you. Come, all who are weary I will give you rest Come all who are striving Lean upon my breast For my yoke is easy And my burden light O come, all who are weary, come Come, all who are wounded Crying out how long Come all who are waiting For the break of dawn Darkness will not hide me Forever from your sight O come, all who are wounded, come Come, all who are weeping All whose hope is gone Come all who are silent All who've lost their song Your every tear is numbered Your every sorrow known O come, all who are weeping, come O come, all who are weary Wounded and weeping All of God's children, come Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 13:10-17 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. The woman in our reading today, had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years, leaving her bent over and unable to stand up straight. Perhaps there are things in your life which cause you to feel bowed over in body, mind or spirit. Take a moment to acknowledge these things with the Lord. This woman would have been constantly looking down towards the ground, so in your imagination, try walking beside her for a while. Look at the ground beneath your feet, the sight that she sees all the time. Imagine what this is like and how she feels as she walks. As you listen again to the reading, notice the difference in the woman’s appearance and demeanour as Jesus lays his hands on her. Luke 13:10-17 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’ But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. ‘The woman immediately stood up straight and started to praise God.’ Now, return to the things that make you feel bowed over. Imagine that the Lord is gazing upon you with deep compassion as you feel or bear these things. How does it feel to know that Jesus sees you? You might like to ask for his healing touch. Perhaps you can end this time of prayer also praising God. 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

Sunday 26 October 2025Today is Sunday the 26th of October, beginning the 30th week of Ordinary Time. IAmSon, Jessica Fox and Paul Zach sing, ‘Total Praise’. Lord, I will lift my eyes to the hills Knowing my help is coming from You Your peace You give me in time of the storm You are the source of my strength You are the strength of my life I lift my hands in total praise to You Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. It looks as though Paul is writing this when he has been sentenced to death; he is in prison, with presumably not much chance of avoiding his fate. How is he coping with this? “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith”. What is Paul’s mood here? Have you ever found yourself feeling this form of consolation? Perhaps it’s something that could help you... Paul uses, as he often does, a sporting metaphor: “the crown of righteousness” is the equivalent in his day to “a gold medal in the Olympics”. Do these metaphors and images help you in some way today? Now listen to the passage as it is read for you once more. Is there anything that you find surprising in it? 2 Timothy 4:6-8 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. “The time off my departure is come: I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith”. How is Paul facing the crisis here? As we end this time of prayer, you might like to ask God for the grace and consolation Paul has been given even during his trials... 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

Saturday 25 October 2025Welcome to the Saturday Examen. Spend a moment asking the Holy Spirit to open the view of this past week to you... As you look back over this week of prayer, it is good to ask: what really stands out for you? Did you at all feel the presence of God in your prayer this week? Was there a moment where you felt “bright” and “warm”, or just “really good”? Was there one particular scripture passage or verse that really spoke to you during this week? What do you think it might be saying to you now? Was there a point when you really experienced a lightness of heart, and felt that God was there? Was there a moment when you had no sense at all of the presence of God? Why do you think that might have been? What do you think God is saying to you today in your prayer? How are you going to respond? 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 24 October 2025Today is Friday the 24th of October, in the 29th week of Ordinary Time. The Cape Town Camerata sings Ndikhokhele Bawo: "Guide me, O Father...Lead me, my Saviour... In all the sorrows of this world, Father... Father, I thank you, for you still protect me...You are forever by my side. Ndikhokhele Bawo, zundikhokhele (Lead me oh Father, lead me) Ndikhokhele mmeli wami ezintsizini, Zalomhlaba Bawo (Lead me my saviour in all the sorrows of this world, Father) Bawo, Bawo, Bawo (Father, Father, Father) Bawo ndiyabonga Ngoba wena usandigcinile (Father I thank you, for you still protect me) Mmeli wami Bawo uhlal’ uhlele duzekwami (Father, Saviour, you calm my fears) Bawo ndiyabonga ngoba wena usandigcinile (Father I thank you, for you still protect me) Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Romans 7:18-25 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin. This is not a very easy passage to interpret; perhaps the best way to look at it is to say that Paul is dealing with a problem that all of us have to face: that we do not always manage to do what we want and ought to do, and perform what we know to be right. “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do”. Have you ever experienced this? Perhaps you are going through it at the moment... If you were sat with Paul, what might you say to each other about this struggle? What might you offer to Paul to help him? “Wretched man that I am!” As you listen to the passage again, notice Paul’s agony... Notice how this touches you... Romans 7:18-25 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin. Finally, look back over this time of reflection and prayer, and try to gather the various thoughts that were occurring to you; then turn them into a prayer, to Jesus or to God. 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 23 October 2025Today is Thursday the 23rd of October, in the 29th week of Ordinary Time. The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing, Encore un peu de temps: “In a little while I will make heaven and earth tremble. Then the One desired by all nations will appear. I will fill this temple with glory and to this place I will bring peace.” Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 12:49-53 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ This is quite a challenging passage. This might be especially difficult for you in the times we live in. Just take a moment to sit with the passage, noticing your response, and invite God into it... “... and what stress I am under until it is completed!” We might not often think of Jesus as under stress... imagine Jesus as he speaks these words... what do you see? How does he sound? As you listen to the passage once more, ask God to gift you something new, as you hear it afresh. Luke 12:49-53 ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’ Division over peace...what a confusing passage for us, especially when so many of us are experiencing divisions, oh so painfully in the world; in our own worlds...within our families and friendships. In the midst of this, you might like to end today’s prayer holding onto Jesus’ words from John’s Gospel: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.’ Speak with the Prince of Peace now about all that you would like to pray for today, from this prayer, and for the world. 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 22 October 2025Today is Wednesday the 22nd of October, in the 29th week of Ordinary Time. Nick Chambers sings, ‘I Just Want To See’. What might you carry into your own prayer from this song? The worry of being a burden Eclipses this quiet belief But I’ll throw off the cloak from my shoulders when you call me up onto my feet And quiet the voices that keep me From crying out my need Son of David, have mercy on me I just want to see I just want to see Lost on the path where you find me This labyrinth under my feet I walk forward but always returning Back through some twisting of grief Still my heart is burning within me Just to hear you speak Wandering stranger, will you stay with me? I just want to see I just want to see Open my eyes Open my eyes I just want to see I just want to see Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Romans 6:12-18 Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. In this passage, Paul is trying to get the Roman Christians to understand how to live the life they are called to live as a result of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. How might they have understood and responded as Paul tells them: “do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies”? What is your response, too? Paul says that we have “been brought from death to life”. What impact does this truth have on your day-to-day living? Now listen once more as the passage is read for you again. What most strikes you about it this time? Romans 6:12-18 Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. “You are not under law but under grace”. How do you live your life based on this truth? Spend some time speaking to God about this in these final moments... 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