St David | 15th Anniversary of Pray As You Go

A message from our Producer:

Today is the 15th anniversary of Pray As You Go, and we'd like to thank our listeners for praying with us over these years. We'd also like to thank all of our writers, voices, musicians, contributors and donors for all they have given, without whom the ministry wouldn't be possible. 

The guides for this week have been written and voiced by Fr Peter Scally SJ, the British Jesuit who created Pray As You Go 15 years ago. So, as we take Pray As You Go back to its original roots this week, we would encourage you to find a moment, pause, and and reflect back on your own prayer journey, and notice where God has grown you over these years. 

We will be celebrating this anniversary and marking it throughout the year, but for now, prepare yourself to enter into prayer, on this special day. 

Today is Monday the 1 March, the feast of St David, in the second week of Lent.

Salt of the Sound sings, ‘Abide with me’.  As I listen, I become aware of God abiding with me now, at the beginning of this time of prayer…

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 6:36-38    

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

The first things Jesus says in this passage are two positive instructions and two negative ones: Do be merciful and do forgive; don’t judge and don’t condemn. Can you think of anyone you know who is like that? – who embodies those qualities?   

Do you see anything of those qualities in yourself? – being merciful and forgiving, not judging, not condemning? – even just a desire to be like that?

As you hear the gospel passage again, notice the way these sayings of Jesus have been handed down to us – there is almost a symmetry to it, every phrase a balanced little couplet.

“The measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Well, there’s a nice symmetry to it, but there are plenty of people whose experience of life is that it’s not quite as fair as that!  If that’s your reaction to those words, can you hear the promise that Jesus is making here? – that the story is not over yet? Spend a moment now, speaking to Jesus about what he is asking of you, and what he is promising you.

You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it.  Everything is yours; do with it what you will.  Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.