By: MARGARET BROWN
AS THE ultimate act of mediation, Christ pleaded that his executioners might be forgiven because they did not know the true significance of what they were doing.
Then, filled with compassion, he ensured the well-being of his mother by giving her into John the apostle’s care in the last moments before he died. A few hours before this, in the Garden of Gethsemane, he had prayed three times for deliverance from what he knew lay ahead, yet not according to his will but that of God.
There is intercessionary prayer during the course of public worship spoken either by a Priest or lay person, when the troubles of the world, together with those of people unknown, are raised to God in faith and hope that he will hear and intervene.
Then there is private prayer, deeply felt and of personal concerns about things which touch our lives: for family and friends but also for one’s self, and it takes time to learn that selfish interests are of little importance in the greater scheme of life.
Sometimes nothing happens, but if there is a response it may be ‘not according to thy will, but mine’. So why pray?
Because it is the only time we may reveal our inmost thoughts and fears, loves and hates, needs and confessions in the certainty that these will go no further. Warts and all we lay ourselves open for inspection before the spirit of compassion.
Even the darkest places lie revealed.
The only way is up with a helping hand from God as we try to change our ways and if we fail from time to time, he will not let us fall.
