Thursday 13 March 2025

Today is Thursday the 13th of March in the 1st week of Lent.

The King’s Singers sing Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis. ‘I have never put my hope in any other but in you’. As I begin this time of prayer today, can I speak those words to God? Can I place all my hope, all my trust, all my faith in him?

Spem in alium nunquam habui
Praeter in te, Deus Israel
Qui irasceris et propitius eris
et omnia peccata hominum
in tribulatione dimittis
Domine Deus
Creator caeli et terrae
respice humilitatem nostram
I have never put my hope in any other
but in Thee, God of Israel
who canst show both wrath and graciousness,
and who absolves all the sins
of man in suffering
Lord God,
Creator of Heaven and Earth
Regard our humility




Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 7:7-12

‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Jesus urges us to pray with trust and perseverance. He promises that God will give us good things if we ask for them. Have you experienced this to be true? What has been your experience of praying to God for what you want?

What good things has God given you that you want to give thanks for? Can you do that now?

How do you feel about asking God for your needs? If this has been an obstacle or a problem for you, what would you want to say to God about this?

Listen once more to the passage. Listen to it, not as a quotation from scripture, but as Jesus speaking to you.

What do you want to ask God for today?

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
Amen