Pray As You Go - Daily Prayer

Today is Tuesday the 3rd of September, the feast of Saint Gregory the Great, in the 22nd week of Ordinary Time. Paul Zach sings, ‘All Will Be Well’. When I am troubled By the sorrows I see When the weight of the world is heavy on me Come close and tell me "All will be well" When I am weeping Over what I have done When my heart was asleep to the love of the Son Savior, come tell me "All will be well" All will be, all will be, all will be well All will be, all will be well You promised all will be, all will be, I will be well All will be, all will bе well Oh, all will be well Whеn I am frightened Over what lies ahead And I wake in the night to the tremor of dread Draw near and tell me That all will be well Ooh, all will be, all will be, all will be well All will be, all will be well You promised all will be, all will be, I will be well All will be, all will be well Oh, You hold it all in the palm of Your hands All of our sorrow and all of our sin You hold the world and You're letting it spin In Your mercy, all things will be well Oh, all manner of things will be well Oh, all will be, all will be, all will be well All will be, all will be well You promised all will be, all will be, all will be well All will be, all will be well, yeah All will be well Oh, all will be well When I am nearing The end of my days Jesus calmed all of my fears with the sight of Your face Let me hear You tell me Tell me that all will be well Tell me all will be well Oh, all will be well Ooh, all will be well Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 4:31-37 He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, ‘What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!’ And a report about him began to reach every place in the region. Sometimes people might read the gospels as if everything were scripted and happened according to a prearranged plan. Another possibility is that Jesus is impressively unperturbed by interruptions . . . How many times do we hear that he is teaching or healing and there is a challenging intrusion from someone else who is possessed or angry at Jesus? . . . Jesus is never thrown by interruptions. Never unnerved. Never bamboozled! He keeps his cool. What do you think of this quality in Jesus? . . . As you listen again, imagine how Jesus responds to this interruption to his teaching . . . It has been said that if you want to make God laugh, why not tell him your plans! Enjoy the unflappable calm of Jesus! You might ask him for some share of it . . . 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.

Today is Monday the 2nd of September in the 22nd week of Ordinary Time. Juliano Ravanello sings ‘Hino Cristológico’, based on the Christ Hymn in Philippians 2:4 –11: ‘…Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.’ Jesus Cristo e o Senhor Para a Gloria de Deus Pai Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo De natureza divina Nao exigiu ser tratado Na qualidade de Deus Mas despojou-se ele mesmo Tomando a forma de servo Igual aos homens sem tudo E simples homem julgado Quis humilhar-se a si proprio E obediente mostrou-se Ate a morte de cruz E por isso Deus o exaltou E o destituiu como homem Que todo homem supera Ao nome pois de Jesus Todo joelho se dobre No ceu, na terra e sob a Terra E toda lingua proclame Para o esplendor de Deus Pai Que Jesus Cristo e o Senhor Jesus Cristo e o Senhor Para a Gloria de Deus Pai Jesus Christ is The Lord For the Glory of God the Father Our Lord Jesus Christ Of divine nature Did not demand to be treated in the quality of God But he stripped himself Taking the form of a servant Just like men without everything And simple man judged I wanted to humiliate myself And obediently showed to the death of the cross And for this God exalted him And dismissed him as a man That every man overcomes To the name of Jesus Every knee bow In heaven, on earth and under the earth And every tongue proclaim To the splendor of God the Father That Jesus Christ is Lord Jesus Christ is The Lord For the Glory of God the Father Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Human beings who profess belief in a loving God wrestle with the problem of evil. Why is there so much suffering in the world? In particular, why is there so much innocent suffering? There are philosophical and theological responses to this question. They vary in quality . . . How do you wrestle with all this in your heart? St Paul resists any easy or partial answer. Instead, he points to a God who chooses to be human in Jesus. He pays the price and is crucified . . . How do you respond to this? This is the God Paul believes in and proclaims. Herein lies God’s response to suffering and evil. Here is God’s power . . . Listen once more to St Paul’s words… As you consider the suffering world, you don’t have to work it all out. Rather, in your mind’s eye, might you gaze at Jesus on the cross . . . 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.

Today is Sunday the 1st of September, beginning the 22nd week of Ordinary Time. Salt of the Sound sings, ‘How Great Thou Art’. How would you like to offer thanks and praise to the Lord today? 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! How great thou art! How great thou art! Today’s reading is from the Letter of James. James 1:17-18,21-22,27 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James offers us a picture of God as faithful to the intentions made clear from the beginning of creation: each one of us is made purposefully – God looks at us and finds us unique and good. How does it feel to have God’s loving gaze on you? James urges us to accept God’s word, planted in us as something living and capable of growth. But we are to participate intentionally in this growth, not just to be passive before the message of the Gospel. In what way might you allow God’s word to take hold of you and bring you to life? As you hear the reading again, listen to any words or ideas that draw or repel you specially. Where does that reaction come from within your heart? For James, as for the prophet Micah, the test of true faith is to love kindness, to do justice and to walk humbly with God rather than imitating the values of a consumer-driven, egotistical culture. What do you want to say to God as you reflect on this? 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.

Welcome to the Saturday Examen. This week’s readings have held as much challenge and warning as comfort and reassurance. Much of this is about the cost of discipleship. Actual persecution and threat on account of our faith are not the experience of everyone. But it can be difficult to be a person of faith within a culture of cynicism and suspicion about religion, or when our faith brings us into conflict with prevailing cultural attitudes. It may be our own inner doubts and questions that make it difficult for us to hold on to Gospel values. Has there been any sense of struggle as you have listened to this week’s readings? Jesus draws a sharp contrast between a religion of empty observance and a religion of the heart. Justice, mercy and faith are what he asks of us rather than blind legalism. Have you found a sense within yourself of wanting to grow in these virtues? Herod is drawn to John the Baptist’s preaching but cannot follow it through. What has made it possible or difficult for you to follow the teachings of Jesus and the example of his life? Have there been particular graces that you have found yourself hoping that God would give you in response to this week’s readings? Take the time you need to connect with those desires and hopes or any contrary anxieties and fears. What kind of disciple do you long to be? Jesus urges us to stay awake – to be alert to the signs of his presence and action in the world. Have there been any such signs in your life this week? Take time now to speak to God from your heart and to ask for a renewal of whatever graces seem most needful in your life at this time. 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.

Today is Friday the 30th of August in the 21st week of Ordinary Time. The Cape Town Camerata sings, ‘Meguru’: Lord you are up there, and we are down here. Have mercy on us when we part, and show us your love. Nampili tuli ronge kapi Nga tuka ji ghwanah. Nampili tuli ronge kapi Nga tuka ji ghwanah. Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo yene ne Nampili turah ronge Jesu, Ka pia ta rohra kah. Nampili turah ronge Jesu, Ka pia ta rohra kah. Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo, ye tu yene ne Meguru, membo yene ne Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 25:1-13 ‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Jesus’ parables often reveal God as a God of surprises. It’s easy for us to get complacent and mould God to our own design. Living a spiritual life means being alert to the unexpected ways in which God’s action can take us unawares. Has God ever surprised you? What do you think the oil represents in this story, and what would it mean to ‘keep your lamp from going out’ in your own life? Can you imagine any reason why God might say to you, or to anyone ‘I do not know you’, and what that would be like? This parable offers both challenge and encouragement. Jesus tells us to ‘stay awake’. How do you think you might do that on a daily basis? As you respond to this parable, allow yourself to speak to Jesus from your heart, expressing your thoughts and feelings, and asking for whatever grace you feel in need of at this time. 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.

Today is Thursday the 29th of August, the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, in the 21st week of Ordinary Time. The Kyiv Chamber Choir sing the Creed: “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” As I start this prayer today, can I join in with this strong, almost exuberant expression of faith? Can I begin by declaring my faith in my God, my creator, my heavenly Father? (Lyrics currently unavailable) Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark. Mark 6:17-29 Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb. John the Baptist’s death conjures up grisly mental pictures. The scheming Herodias and the weak Herod kill the prophet for different motives. What prophetic voices are being silenced today? What prophetic voices are you motivated to listen to? Is there any issue for which you would be prepared to suffer today? How far would you go in defence of your principles? Had you been an onlooker at the deadly banquet, what might you have done? Perhaps there’s something you want to say to God about this. As the reading is repeated, allow your imagination to picture the scene and its aftermath. What feelings and responses arise within you as you witness the death of a prophet? It was John the Baptist who urged his own disciples to follow Jesus, yet later questioned if Jesus truly was the Messiah. How does this story urge you to respond to the call of Jesus? 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.

Today is Wednesday the 28th of August, the feast of Saint Augustine, in the 21st week of Ordinary Time. One Hope project sings, ‘Come Close’. Spend a moment asking the Lord to come close to you now as you begin this time of prayer. Come close My heart is ready Come close My heart is here Draw near I’m longing for You Draw near My love All I’ve ever wanted All I’ve ever wanted All I’ve ever wanted is found in You This moment is ours I won’t rush away Jesus Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 23:27-32 ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, “If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors.’ If Jesus was in angry prophet mode in yesterday’s readings, today’s are even worse! He has no time for religious complacency and self-satisfaction but calls us to humility and honesty. What is your response to that call? Jesus emphasises interior faith rather than outward religious show. He challenges religious people, as many critical non-believers do today. God sees what is in our innermost heart, even when that contrasts with our outward behaviour. How do you feel in the face of that? As we hear the reading repeated, allow Jesus’ words to resonate within you. What words of his particularly catch your attention in response? Jesus clearly found the resistance to his words and actions by religious leaders a cause of deep frustration and disappointment. If you had been there to hear him, what might you have wanted to say? What do you want to say to him 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.

Today is Tuesday the 27th of August, the feast of Saint Monica, in the 21st week of Ordinary Time. Liz Vice with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘We Believe in the Name’. Justice…A mighty fortress…power…strong deliverer…. As you listen, draw to mind your own name for the Lord today. We believe in the saving power In the saving power of the name His name is justice, a mighty fortress A balm for the weary, our refuge and our strength His name is power, our strong deliverer We believe in Jesus′ name We believe in the name We believe in the name We believe in the name We believe in the name We believe in the healing power In the healing power of the name We believe in the healing power In the healing power of the name His name is justice, a mighty fortress A balm for the weary, our refuge and our strength His name is power, our strong deliverer We believe in Jesus' name We believe in the name What′s his name? (Jesus) Say his name! (Jesus) What's his name? (Jesus) His name is justice, a mighty fortress A balm for the weary, our refuge and our strength His name is power, our strong deliverer We believe in Jesus′ name We believe in the name We believe in the name We believe in the name Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 23:23-26 ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! ‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. Jesus’ words offer stark challenges to the religious leaders of his day and to us. His image of the gnat and the camel leaves no room for doubt – hypocrisy and neglect of justice and mercy are unacceptable to God. What does it feel like for you to be on the receiving end of such plain speaking from Jesus? People are often better at noticing and pointing out the faults of others than at being honestly aware of their own shortcomings. What kind of conversation might Jesus want to have if he were speaking directly to you? What would that feel like? As we hear Jesus’ words once more, allow them to touch into your own experience. Do you find yourself wanting to say something in response to Jesus’ words? Jesus champions justice, mercy and faith over strict religious observance. What would you want to say to God and to faith leaders about this? 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.

Today is Monday the 26th of August in the 21st 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 Saint Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering […] To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfil by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s letter to the troubled Thessalonians expresses his deep affection for the community and his desire for them to grow in faith, hope and love. It illustrates the loving bonds that can exist within the body of Christ. Have you experienced belonging within or exclusion from the community of faith? How has that felt? Paul assumes as a matter of course that all who are baptised in Christ have a sense of call. Is that true for you? The ritual of baptism tells us that we share in the threefold ministry of Jesus Christ as prophet, priest and member of the kingdom. What does that mean to you? As you hear the reading repeated, what phrases touch your mind and heart? What do you think God is trying to bring to your attention? Today’s reading speaks of ‘every good resolve and work of faith’ being fulfilled in us by God’s power. What might you want to say to God about the fulfilment of your own ‘good resolves’ and about God’s power at work within you? 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.

Today is Sunday the 25th August, beginning the 21st week of Ordinary Time. It is the Spirit of love who gives life. God is the source of all life, the one in whom we live and move and have our being. The “Spirit of love” may not be easy to see, but can you sense God’s presence wherever you are now? You might like to ask for that sense as you begin to pray… It is the Spirit of love who gives life, who even at night guides my heart; I say to this Spirit of love, true joy lies in you alone. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand your peace forever, when we come to your life eternal. You are the Spirit who gives life; true joy lies in you alone Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John. John 6: 60-69 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ “This teaching is difficult.” Jesus’s listeners are reacting like this to being told that unless they eat his flesh and drink his blood they will have no life in them. But perhaps it’s a reaction you’ve had – or maybe still have – to other things Jesus says. Are there things you’ve heard Jesus say – perhaps even this week – that you find difficult to accept? How have you dealt with that? “It is the spirit that gives life,” Jesus says. Where and when, in the past week, have you felt really alive? When have you felt the Spirit giving life to you? There is a hint of “decision time”, or of the “sheep and the goats” about the last part of this passage, when some of the disciples throw in the towel, but Peter and the Twelve declare their faith more strongly than ever. Which way has praying with this passage inclined you? - to doubt, or to greater resolve? “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” As these words are read again, what spirit and what life can you hear in them? “We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Speak to Jesus now about what you have come to believe and know about him, who he is for you, what he means to you. Speak to him openly and freely, as one friend speaks to another. 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.