And rest in you

Prayers at Morning Prayer

Bangor Cathedral, Thursday 5 July 2018

Psalm 115; 1 Samuel 2:27-end; Luke 20:9–19

We’ll busy ourselves with meetings and tasks -
the show on the road.
We’ll fill our time with thoughts of ourselves -
our status, our place -
this show on the road.
And even if Eli’s sons are worse than us,
even if the tenants of the vineyard are more selfish than us,
we’ll miss the cornerstone, too,
the stone the builders rejected,
until the show stops in anger or grief or tears or failure,
and we wish we’d stopped some more,
to rest with you.

Give us sense, give us time today,
mid meeting and task,
to know your way.
Give us sense, give us time today,
when our ego overwhelms,
to know your gift.
Give us sense, give us time
to search for your presence
in humility and grace,
in truth and kindness.
Give us sense, give us time
to stop,
then stop some more
and rest in you.