From the Rev. Dr. John Throop, President, US Council, AFP

In the Lenten season, a key spiritual discipline is prayer. Indeed, in the Episcopal Church lectionary (the table of Scripture readings), the appointed Gospel is Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21. In verses 5 and 6, we read that Jesus said, “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Notice two points in these verses. First, Jesus teaches about when we pray, not if we pray. Prayer is an essential practice for a disciple. Secondly, Jesus urges personal or private prayer rather than public prayer. As disciples, we are to focus on an intimate conversation with God as we live through each day. The meaningfulness and sincerity of public prayer is rooted in a personal prayer life. A meaningful and dynamic prayer life opens a way for the Holy Spirit to refresh us for the work God has given each of us to do. We then discover the blessing of a disciplined prayer life: resilience.

We need resilience for spiritual strength and growth. Any prayer warrior can testify to the importance of resilience in the past year. We’ve had to face into the destructive power of the COVID-19 virus. Most of us—likely all of us—have known family, friends, co-workers, and fellow church members who have been infected by this virus. Others have lost their jobs or their businesses due to great restrictions around personal contact. Children have been out of school. Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers have put their lives at risk rushing infected people to the hospital. Doctors, nurses, and health care workers have been strained to the limits in many places. Even if you and I have not been personally affected by this virus, we might feel worn thin from the intensity of prayerfulness in this crisis.

At the same time, here in the United States, we have prayed through an election season that has revealed deep divisions, sometimes even to painful conflict within families. Praying through the election (and events afterwards) has demanded much of those who pray. The evens at the Capitol on January 6^th required prayerful vigilance that may have caused spiritual exhaustion. Then, we may have called on for prayer for the specific needs of family members and friends, or issues and questions within our own lives.

For the prayerful disciple, all of these circumstances, large and small, have demanded much of us. The apostle Paul put into perspective the need for perseverance in prayer. He also presented the promise of prayer and the secret of resilience in prayer. “Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:1-5)

The prayers of the disciple are grounded in hope—and hope is a key part of resilient prayer. Some people, whether churchgoers or who are disconnected Christians have asked me to pray for a need that they face. They ask me to pray for them, but they don’t ask me to pray with them. Perhaps they don’t know how to pray, or what to seek in prayer. Or they begin with a sense of doubt, unsure whether prayer will “work” in their circumstance. As a disciple of Jesus, I tell these folks that I will pray for ad with them, trusting God for guidance and direction. I pray that, whatever the circumstance, they will persevere in trusting God for the best outcome. As they learn how to pray in such a way, their perseverance produces character—the character of Christ. Then they find hope, which never disappoints. In hope, they find resilience—not just to find a way through, but to find a new way deeper into the presence of Christ. Fir Christ is the source of all resilience and grace.

A key learning in Lent is that no matter how challenging and sometimes exhausting it is to persist in prayer and to persevere in hope, n o matter how weary we may become, the Holy Spirit will power, grace into our hearts, minds, and souls. We will find resilience. And we will want to move into prayer again with deeper hope and greater strength. In prayerfulness, we find resilience. Amen.

Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all comfort: Deal graciously, we pray thee, with all those who mourn, that casting every care on thee, they may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Morning

Lord - 
We offer you all we are, all we have, all we do, and all whom we shall meet this day, that you will be given the glory. 
We offer you our homes and work, our schools and leisure, and everyone in our community today; may all be done as unto you. 
We offer you the broken and hungry... 
May the wealth and work of the world be available to all and for the exploitation of none. May your presence be known to all.

Midday

As the press of work pauses at noon,
may God's Rest be upon us. 
As the sun rides high at noon, 
may the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us. 
As the rain refreshes the stained, stale streets, 
may the Spirit bring rain upon our dry ground.

Evening

We offer You, Lord, the troubles of this day; we lay down our burdens at your feet. Forgive us our sins, give us your peace, and help us to receive your Word. We give you thanks that you are always present, in all things each day and each night. We give you thanks for your gifts of creation, life, and friendship. We give you thanks for the blessings of this day...

Night

In the name of the restful Father, 
In the name of the calming Son, 
In the name of the peaceful Spirit. 
May we and God be one...

I place my soul and body under your guarding this night, 0 God, 
0 Father of help to frail pilgrims, Protector of heaven and earth.

I place my soul and body 
Under your guarding this night, 0 Christ, 
0 Son of the tears and the piercings, 
May your cross this night be my shield.

I place my soul and body 
Under your glowing this night, 0 Spirit, 
0 gentle Companion, and soul Friend, 
My heart's eternal warmth.

Copyright Ray Simpson for the Community of Aidan and Hilda. Used with permission.

We praise and worship you, God our creator. You have created us in your image, though we are unworthy. You have given us your Son, who continues to nourish us through the gift of his body and blood. May we never be separated from you, and may our worship be worthy of you, God our life-giver.

Lord God, 
you brought us healing through the Easter mysteries. Continue to be bountiful to your people; Lead us to the perfect freedom, by which the joy that gladdens our way on earth will be fulfilled in heaven through Christ our Lord.

In Christ a new age has dawned; 
the long reign of sin is ended; 
a broken world has been renewed, 
and we are once again made whole. 
Preface of Easter IV Roman Missal

"Never straying from his Benedictine call, Cardinal Hume confronted the modern world as an uncompromising practitioner of Anselm's fides quaerens intellectum. Yet even more strikingly, he deliberately chose the better part - he abided in faith that ever passes understanding." In Cardinal Hume we are given the opportunity to journey alongside this man of God. The book offers reflections and meditations for the Seasons of the Christian year, beginning with Lent and Easter, then moving through Pentecost and on to Advent and Christmas. We can follow the year through, or dip into the text at any time. In these pages, we find words of understanding, encouragement, and hope - words that speak to us whatever our condition, whatever our beliefs.

Eternal and Almighty God, we give you thanks for all your faithful people who have followed your will in a grand procession of praise throughout the world and down through the centuries, into our own time and place.

We hear their stories from the pages of scripture, in the records of history, and in the recollections of our families and in our own lifetime memories.

As we remember these people, inspire us by your Spirit to join them and to follow our Lord through life. To be bold as they were and brave as well, witnessing to your righteous truth and generous love.

Give us grace, O God, that we will leave a legacy of faithfulness to encourage and challenge those who follow us along the way of discipleship; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.