Post date: Aug 2, 2013 1:00:23 PM
It is not always easy to pray: to be disciplined enough to set a few minutes aside to raise our minds and hearts to God. This is especially true when we are away from home; and sometimes we are just too exhausted to make the effort. It can be helpful at these times to repeat a favourite prayer, or one or two lines from a hymn. It doesn’t matter if we can’t remember the whole thing. It doesn’t matter in the slightest what we say to God. What really matters is that we remind ourselves that God loves us at all times, in all circumstances, and unconditionally. A wise priest of our diocese wrote: We do not pray to change God’s mind. We pray to change ourselves.
These are a few lines from a hymn by Daniel Schutte, which is based on Psalm 139. Jesus would have learned the original words of the Psalm when he was a child; and he would have used them when he prayed. Various translations echo down the centuries; and this version seems especially relevant to travellers of today.
Lord God, I know you are near, standing always at my side, you guard me from the foe and you lead me in ways everlasting. Where can I run from your love? If I climb to the heavens you are there. If I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea, still I’d find you there....
The St Hugh’s Year of Faith discussion group will next meet on Saturday, 21st September after the 10am Mass.