YOU DO NOT KNOW THE DAY

PRAYER MOMENT

Friday 22 November 2013

YOU DO NOT KNOW THE DAY

Pause.  “It is in silence that we shall hear a voice deep within us speaking to our nobler selves, calling us to high ideals and generous instincts.” (Basil Hume)

Reading. “So stay awake, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt25: 1-13)

Reflection. I have yet to meet anyone who cannot remember exactly where they were when they heard the news of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on this day 50 years ago. I was a student and we were at supper and I can tell you the table and the chair I sat on. We were totally shocked, numbed. How could this happen? Across the world people were inspired by him no matter what their political differences. His violent removal seemed to make each of us poorer, even orphans. We had placed so much hope in someone we thought would make the world a better place. And now he was gone and no one could do a thing about it. With all our technology and information which we think can control just about everything we discovered our limits. And it was painful.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, give us a deep sense of our fragility and our need to always have you as part of our perspective. In times of tragedy let is not despair but know that you are there. Amen.