Presence

“The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” (Gerard Manley Hopkins)
I dwell for a moment on the presence of God around me,
in every part of my body,
and deep within my being.

Freedom

Lord, I let go of the worries, resentments and fears
that I can sometimes hold on to so tightly.
Let me open my hands and my heart to receive freely
all the gifts that I need at this time.

Consciousness

How am I really feeling? Lighthearted? Heavy-hearted?
I may be very much at peace, happy to be here.
Equally, I may be frustrated, worried or angry.
I acknowledge how I really am. It is the real me that the Lord loves.

The Word of God

⁷“When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹“Pray, then, in this way:

Our Father in heaven, may your name be revered as holy.

¹⁰May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹Give us today our daily bread.^{, 12}And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.^,

¹⁴“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Inspiration

Prayer is never a mere recitation of words no matter how much we repeat them. It is a disposition of the heart. In Isaiah, we read, ‘This people honours me with their lips but their hearts are far from Me.’ The most important thing we can do in prayer is to love. This can be done even without words in silent adoration. When we find it difficult to know what to say to the lord in prayer, let us have him say to us, ‘I don’t need your words. I just want your company and your love.’

In the Our Father, Jesus teaches us the right attitude to have in prayer, that God has the first place in our lives, that we have forgiveness in our hearts for others, and that we ask him to provide for and protect us. The First Principle in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius begins with, ‘Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.’

Conversation

Do I notice myself reacting as I pray with the Word of God?
Do I feel challenged, comforted, angry?
Imagining Jesus sitting or standing near me,
I speak out my feelings, as one trusted friend to another.

Conclusion

Filled with the loving presence of God,
I ask Him to bless me and guide my steps
as I go to do His work in my daily life.

Amen