Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 4th week of Lent: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 107:33 to 43; Evening, Psalm 108:1-6(7-13); 33;
Exodus 2:23 to 3:15; 1st Corinthians 13:1 to 13; Mark 9:14 to 29:
“He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.” (Mark 9:29)
I feel like not enough Christian effort is applied in prayer today, even as it was lacking back as Jesus witnessed when He walked among us. By this I mean the “sit-in-your-room-alone – prayer.” After the disciples of our Lord Jesus failed to cast out the evil spirit by whatever means they were using, Jesus himself interviewed the father of the boy about how long this has been happening. Then Jesus told the evil presence not only to come out of the boy, but also to never enter him again. Our Lord Jesus later explains about needing to pray more. He says that “This kind can come out only through prayer.” This is still what we need today.
We have suffered as a planet from Covid and even some clergy, Christian clergy, have gone along with secular instruction to establish and maintain physical (social) distancing. And that has worked, but perhaps during our time (alone) and distancing, we should also be praying, pray without ceasing. We’re pretty much out of it now but it has left its mark and some parishes are still trying to fully come to the place we were before Covid.
Perhaps this physical distancing was good advice for the physical self. How about our spiritual selves? Sooner or later we will all stand before the One for whom nothing is impossible. What response will we give for not coming to our Lord for help? Our former Presiding Bishop (the Most Reverend Micheal Curry) once said the most important prayer we can pray is one word, and that word is; “Help.”
Folks, we must have faith and believe. Our Lord Jesus took issue with the father who showed some doubt when he ask, “if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us” (Mark 9: 22). To this Jesus responds, “‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes” (Mark 9: 23). My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we must never underestimate the power of our faith in God and the power of prayer. Prayer brings to an end whatever troubles us. God will either take the trouble away from us or bring us out of the trouble. God loves us so much that God can’t refuse whatever we ask, but we must trust and ask. And we ask for the benefit of one another everywhere. We don’t ask just for ourselves, our family, or our Church or our Country, but for humankind all over the planet.
Today we remember Thomas Ken, Bishop and Non-Juror (March 21, 1711), and his information may be found at: Thomas Ken
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray:
Most holy and all powerful creating and loving Spirit, please hear our prayers of praise, confession, thanksgiving, intersession, and personal needs. Remind us daily Dear Lord that prayer is our best connection to you, and that we should pray daily. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.
onewhoponders 