The Feast of St Cecilia | Wednesday 22 November 2023

Today is Wednesday 22nd of November, the feast of St Cecilia, in the 33rd week of Ordinary time.

The Choir of the King’s Consort sing Henry Purcell’s Hear My Prayer, O Lord: “Hear My Prayer, O Lord, and let my crying come unto thee.” As I listen, I too bring my prayer, my needs and my longings, the deepest feelings of my heart, before the Lord.

Today’s reading is from Psalm 16 of the Grail version. This can be found as Psalm 17 in other versions of the Bible. It will be read in two parts.

Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
From you may my judgment come forth.
Your eyes discern the truth.
You search my heart, you visit me by night.
You test me and you find in me no wrong.
My words are not sinful as are men’s words.
I kept from violence because of your word,
I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your great love, you whose right hand saves
your friends from those who rebel against them.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the violent attack of the wicked.

As we begin our prayer, we can join David in his opening lines:
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
What cause or cry is on your heart today?
Picture the Lord turning his ear to your prayer now.

The Psalmist is open to being searched by the Lord:
You search my heart, you visit me by night.
You test me and you find in me no wrong.
Can this be your prayer today: ‘Search my heart, Lord’?
Imagine opening your heart up to the Lord now.

Now, a request for protection:
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the violent attack of the wicked.
Perhaps you need God to guard you and hide you in the shadow of his wings today? How might it feel to be held and protected in this safe place?
Listen now to the second half of the psalm.

My foes encircle me with deadly intent.
Their hearts tight shut, their mouths speak proudly.
They advance against me, and now they surround me.
Their eyes are watching to strike me to the ground
as though they were lions ready to claw
or like some young lion crouched in hiding.
Lord, arise, confront them, strike them down!
Let your sword rescue my soul from the wicked;
let your hand, O Lord, rescue me from men,
from men whose reward is in this present life.
You give them their fill of your treasures;
they rejoice in abundance of offspring
and leave their wealth to their children.
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.

Amidst the presence of his foes, David writes:
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
Can this be your vision and your longing… to see God’s face and be filled with the sight of his glory?

Spend the last moments of your prayer imagining with the Lord what this would look like.

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.