When going through a difficult trial a number of years ago, my heart was encouraged when a fellow priest reminded me that I never pray alone, nor was I ever without prayer, for the Church prays with me and for me. Recently, I found these words...
Prayer is by nature common. Prayer is by the power of one Holy Spirit which is drawing all creation towards its redemption in Christ and by which Spirit alone we can recognize Jesus as LORD. Prayer is the act of the Body of Christ which offers itself to the one God and Father of all through His Son Jesus, the Head of the Body and great High Priest. Because the whole Body prays through its one Head, "All prayer is the prayer of the whole Church. There isn't any other sort." (Dewi Morgan, But God Comes First) In prayer we are not alone, we are with each other and the LORD.
The multitude with whom and for whom we pray is so great that it cannot be numbered. ....The angels pray with us. Those round the throne are ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands (Rev. 5.11) They never cease to cry Holy, Holy, Holy, and our prayer is joined with theirs.
After evoking our presence with the angels in prayer, the Te Deum (p. 7-9 BCP) brings to our consciousness the company and fellowship of the saints. Common prayer has an historical continuity which serves to unite our prayers with those of the noble army which has gone before and this dimension we must not lose or forget.
Finally, we come to the saints now upon the earth, "the holy Church throughout all the World" prays with us. ...Dewi Morgan remarks that, "This is of intense personal significance for it means that at every moment everyone of us is being prayed for by the Church. Nowadays you can never pray alone. You can only pray at the same time as, and therefore in union with, the Church." (From Common Prayer: A commentary on the Prayer Book Lectionary, Volume 2, St Peter Publications, Charlottetown, PE)
Why not take some time to read the Te Deum on pages 7 to 9 on the BCP and spend a few minutes reflecting on this wonderful truth - you are never alone, we pray together no matter where we are.
LORD have mercy, Brian+
I've been reading your blog the last couple of days - a friend passed it along to me. I've enjoyed your thoughts and musings. Further to your comments on "not praying alone" - it's also inspiring to realize that as Paul says in Romans 8:26-"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." So, even though we might feel alone, God, Himself, as the Holy Spirit, is also with us supporting us in our prayer and helping us express our need. Good thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ron. I certainly do need to take time to be reminded that the LORD is always with me, AND us! It is also wonderful to know that when you pray for the Church, you are praying for me; and when I pray for the Church I am praying for you. Indeed we are praying for each other, AND in the mystical union that is found in Christ's Body, we are praying with each other. Ephesians 3.14-21 comes to mind just now. Praise the LORD!
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