Friday 10 June 2022

Today is Friday the 10th June, in the 10th week of Ordinary Time.

One Hope Project sings, ‘Come Close’. As you settle into prayer now, become aware of how you are in your body…in your mind… in your heart… and bring it all before the Lord.
My heart is ready
Come close
My heart is here
Draw near I’m longing for You
Draw near
My love
All I’ve ever wanted
All I’ve ever wanted
All I’ve ever wanted is found in You
This moment is ours
I won’t rush away
Jesus


Today’s reading is from the first book of Kings.
1 Kings 19:9,11-16
At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’
He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ Then the LORD said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

The beginning of this passage paints an evocative picture of the power of the natural world and, perhaps, how we imagine God’s presence within it. What thoughts or feelings do you gather from the scene?
God in the silence, God in the stillness. Part of our prayer practice is to be alert to God’s stillness. To be guided by silence. How do you find this pattern of prayer?

As you listen to the passage again, notice how the mood changes. From chaos, to stillness, to sending. How does this speak to you?
‘What are you doing here?’ With an open heart, share this moment and all its concerns and questions with the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.