17/04/2015

Good morning. Saying my prayers is part of my job description. As a Parish Priest that may not be too surprising – although it’s good to be reminded every now and then.But I find that my prayers fall into two sorts. Praying for people that I know and whose problems I have a glimpse of – that’s easy, and I know why I’m doing it. If I care about someone and don’t share my concerns with my heavenly Father, that would be… odd.But then there are the prayers that I feel I ought to be praying. What one might call “official prayers”. Like the prayers many churches are now saying every Sunday about the General Election. I’m quite sure that public prayer is not the time or place to support a particular party or candidate. But the danger is that I then fall into the Pit of a Thousand Platitudes, a string of harmless safe phrases.And if that’s all my praying is, it is indeed in real danger. But prayer isn’t just me banging on – it’s a two-way process. Talking and listening.Yes, there’s being honest to God about things that are concerning us – or things we’re really pleased about, of course – but then there’s also the prayer that is our opening ourselves to God. Put bluntly, shutting up and listening. And it really is quite surprising what so often happens – what thoughts seem to come unbidden to mind – when we leave room for God. Perspectives change. Love replaces hatred, injuries are pardoned, hope and light overcome despair and darkness.Allowing space and time to be touched by heaven can even be a cure for weary cynicism in the run-up to a General Election.Lord God,help us to be quiet in your presence,to make time in our busy lives to be with you,saying nothing, doing nothing, just listening.Amen