大象传媒

Good morning.

鈥淲hen you get back to your pew after receiving Communion take a moment to pray.鈥� So ran the perfectly good advice of the Rector who prepared me for Confirmation more than 30 years ago. I鈥檝e been grateful for it ever since, because my silent reply as an unimaginative thirteen year old was what should I pray, exactly? As I thought about that, it dawned on me that if prayer in response to the Sacrament made spiritual sense, prayer in preparation for it might too.

And so began a 鈥榖efore and after鈥� devotional habit that has been evolving and adapting ever since. From prayer before and after meals and before and after sleep, to prayer before and after major life decisions and serious personal choices. It鈥檚 carried over naturally from the domestic to the pastoral sphere: prayer before and after services and sermons; before and after home and hospital visits, before and after meetings and interviews and so on.

If ever my practice loses urgency, I simply recall a parish mission visit to rural Kenya. The prayer offered by our hosts before and after every single journey in the Land Rover took dependence to a whole new level. Formally, it鈥檚 the book-ending of each day鈥檚 ministry with the Daily Office. Informally,聽聽 it鈥檚 a few internal seconds on the hoof either side: a deep breath and a pause to remember I鈥檓 not alone, followed by a sigh of relief and a laying down.

Lord as we begin this day with prayer, may we end it the same way. Whatever fills the gap between, prompt us to call on your divine assistance before and then after to leave all at the foot of cross 鈥� for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen