“Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.” —The Book of Common Prayer (Church Publishing, Inc.), p. 102.
How often I have said this prayer at the end of the daily Morning Prayer Office from The Book of Common Prayer, as well as sharing it with one or two others in desperate need. When we pray together, we affirm that God hears our prayer, most certainly even before we pray. As I say this prayer, I remember that C. S. Lewis always reminds us that we pray not to change God but to change ourselves.
As we pray this prayer in the Daily Office of Morning Prayer, we also can feel connected to all others in all places praying Morning Prayer along with us. That is why I have often joined a group of pray-ers saying prayers for a specific person that we know is in need or distress at a certain hour of the day. The deep realization that others are praying petitions for the same person or cause all over the country or the world is a force of nature. Sometimes we may later find out whether that person is safe or has improved; but always, always, we are changed.
St. Chrysostom’s prayer also reminds us of how fleeting fame is. Chrysostom, an archbishop of Constantinople in the late 4th century, often referred to as the “golden mouthed” because of his excellence in preaching, was the most famous early Christian preacher and most prolific writer, exceeded only by Augustine. He was outspoken about abuses in the Church and politics. His legacy is still a dominant influence in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, and his feast day is celebrated on September 13. However, I know only a few preachers in our Church who quote his famous Easter sermon, most often at the Vigil.
This daily prayer constitutes all that most of us in the Western Church still possess to remember him by; but because of its power and wisdom, it is more than enough.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com
Just in time for the holidays
A Spiritual Rx for Advent Christmas, and Epiphany
The Sequel to A Spiritual Rx for Lent and Easter
Both are $18
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