Pray As You Go - Daily Prayer

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

Tuesday 21 October 2025Today is Tuesday the 21st of October, in the 29th week of Ordinary Time. Juliano Ravanello sings, Adoro te devote, a prayer written by St Thomas Aquinas: ‘Godhead here in hiding, whom I do adore, Masked by these bare shadows, shape and nothing more, See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art.’ Adoro te devote, latens Deitas Quæ sub his figuris vere latitas Tibi se cor meum totum subjicit Quia te contemplans totum deficit Visus, tactus, gustus in te fallitur Sed auditu solo tuto creditur Credo quidquid dixit Dei Fílius Nil hoc verbo veritatis verius In cruce latebat sola Deitas At hic latet simul et humanitas Ambo tamen credens atque confitens Peto quod petivit latro pœnitens Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intueor Deum tamen meum te confiteor Fac me tibi semper magis credere In te spem habere, te diligere O memoriale mortis Domini! Panis vivus, vitam præstans homini! Præsta meæ menti de te vivere Et te illi semper dulce sapere Pie pellicane, Jesu Domine Me immundum munda tuo sanguine Cujus una stilla salvum faceret Totum mundum quit ab omni scelere Jesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio Oro fiat illud, quod tam sitio Ut, te revelata cernens facie Visu sim beatus tuæ gloriæ. Amen Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 12:35-38 Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those servants. Jesus’ teaching here is quite strong. What do you notice particularly about the passage? What is at the heart of Jesus’ message? Place yourself into the scene for a moment. What is it like to be “waiting for the Master”? Does this echo in your own waiting on Jesus? “The Master will have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them”. Does anything surprise you about this? Now listen as the passage is read to you once more. Imagine the scene as it unfolds... Luke 12:35-38 ‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those servants. Finally, see if you can gather together all the thoughts that have risen inside you during this time, and then turn them into a prayer 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

Monday 20 October 2025Today is Monday the 20th of October, in the 29th week of Ordinary Time. The community of Taizé sing Beati voi poveri: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.’ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ Luke’s gospel tends to regard wealth with some suspicion. Why do you think this might be? What is your own relationship to wealth? Someone in the crowd seems to order Jesus to intervene in a family situation... How do you imagine the moment Jesus responds? As you hear the passage a second time, notice how you respond to Jesus’ parable... Luke 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ As this time of prayer comes to a close, is there anything that has stayed with you from the passage or your own reflections? Spend a moment speaking about this with Jesus, 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

Sunday 19 October 2025Today is Sunday the 19th of October, beginning the 29th week of Ordinary Time. The Community of Taizé sing, ‘O Lord Hear My Prayer’. What is your prayer today? What are you asking the Lord to hear today? Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.”’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’ So, how persistent are you in prayer? Jesus’ message here is clear: don’t give up! It’s a playful picture and the point hits home all the more strongly for that, would you agree? What do you pray for? For whom do you pray? Perhaps you have been praying for someone, or something, for a long time. Your subconscious refrain might have become: ‘I’m feeling jaded, what’s the point?’ rather than: ‘Lord in your mercy, keep hearing my prayer.’ Listen to the passage again. Be encouraged. Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.”’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’ How do today’s words from Jesus make you want to pray? Bring all your concerns of this moment to God. You might notice that in doing so, you begin not to lose heart. 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 18 October 2025Welcome to the Saturday Examen. If you were to re-capture some of this week’s reflections, you might want to imagine a wide angled lens sweeping over the whole picture of salvation and then homing in on tiny details of our human condition. Jesus, meeting crowds of people, even thousands, and homing in on individuals- even sparrows, and the hairs on our head! Breathe deeply. Let the shape of the story of redemption take you in, over time, over the generations. You are part of a whole. Give joyful thanks. Home in on a simple detail that might be bringing you down. Bring it to God. Ask for a greater awareness of the whole picture of redemption as well as the tiny detail. Step out into the day in God’s amazing grace... 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 17 October 2025Today is Friday the 17th of October, the feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, in the 28th week of Ordinary Time. Jon Guerra sings, ‘Reckoner’. How does this song speak to you today? Notice if a particular line or phrase stays with you... These are the days of the devil in the wilderness These are the tastes that have turned into bitterness It's not that we doubt that a stone can turn into bread It's just we doubt that we're hungry at all The serial temptations of the age are getting harder The country's getting meaner, computers getting smarter The pains we try to numb are only getting sharper We're going on like nothing's the matter at all Every valley will be lifted Every mountain brought low When the reckoner comes reckoning Every secret will be known Truly truly, I tell you truly There's an axe laid at the root Before the reckoner comes reckoning Repent, believe the truth The phone in my pocket was sold like a gain to me I've lost so much time and attention to technology That sells me the lie that it knows what I really need And God knows it only make me feel more alone This is the rot and the end of civilization When the spirit is quenched by a spiritless simulation We need no other signs, no other tribulation than this Every valley will be lifted Every mountain brought low When the reckoner comes reckoning Every secret will be known Truly truly, I tell you truly There's an axe laid at the root Before the reckoner comes reckoning Repent, believe the truth We shall not live by bread alone But by every word that comes from the mouth of God We shall not live by bread alone But by every word that comes from the mouth of God Truly, truly I tell you truly As you did it to one of these To the least of these my brethren You did it unto me For I was hungry, and you fed me I was thirsty, you gave me drink I was a stranger, and you welcomed me You did it unto me Some trust in chariots, in power or politicians Some trust in the market of collective superstitions But we trust in the name of the Lord of crucifixion And the hope of resurrection In Jesus Christ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 12:1-7 Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops. ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. What do these words of Jesus today tell you about aspects of the character of God? What do they tell you about your role? Consider the importance of: Transparency. Courage. Trusting the all-seeing, all-knowing God. Consider the contrasts - the thousands gathered to hear Jesus. Jesus homing in on the tiny detail of sparrows, and the very hairs on our head! Listen to the passage again and notice what aspects of the passage draw a reaction from you. Luke 12:1-7 Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops. ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. You could speak with this all-seeing, all-knowing God. ‘Not one is forgotten in God’s sight.’ Allow yourself to be seen and known and not forgotten. 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 16 October 2025Today is Thursday the 16th of October, in the 28th week of Ordinary Time. The monks of Pluscarden Abbey sing: Deus in adjutorium meum intende: O God come to our aid, O Lord, make haste to help us. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 11:47-54 ‘Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute”, so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.’ When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile towards him and to cross-examine him about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. How do you sense the atmosphere in today’s scene? You could place yourself in amongst the players. Take in the facial expressions, the tones of voice. Feel the heat in the place. The hostility. In one word, how would you describe Jesus here? Watch how he challenges. Observe how he deals with cross examination. Try and get the measure of the man, try and get a tiny measure of the very Son of God. Listen to the passage again and notice any word or phrase that stays with you. Luke 11:47-54 ‘Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute”, so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.’ When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile towards him and to cross-examine him about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say. Allow Jesus to turn to you, when all is done for that day of great tension, to walk away to a quiet place together. You might want simply to sit with him, give him time to rest. 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