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THE JOURNEY HOME: EVENING PRAYER

On the journey homewards, hopefully there comes a moment where the cares of the workaday world begin to be shed and in their stead new, home-directed thoughts and issues take over. Some of those home-concerns may be of enormous and worrying importance, others much more mundane, but sometimes, deeper still, there are more profound moments of introspection about life and its meaning.

There will also come a point, perhaps on the journey itself or, perhaps, later in the evening, when time can be found to reflect on the day that has passed. It’s a sort of tidying-up-and-putting-to-one-side kind of process, a time for turning down the lights and for placing all that has happened before God.

The structure for Evening Prayer is similar to that for Morning Prayer, but with some variations appropriate to the time of day and the different mood of journeying home.

PRESENCE AND PEACE

As with Morning Prayer, this is a moment to focus on God, and to try to achieve a sense of stillness and peace in his presence amongst the commotion of the journey. It will be easier if you have managed to get a seat – but by no means impossible if you haven’t!

READING

As with Morning Prayer, the Bible readings have been selected because they represent some of the most powerful and important elements of our faith. In fact, the readings in the evening sessions echo the readings from the Morning Prayer time.

The readings are followed by Reflections designed to help you to think about one or more of the themes of the reading. At night especially, it is important not to struggle intellectually with each reading, that’s for the daytime. In the evening, the mode and the mood are different. They should be marked by a kind of willing and restful patience.

CONFESSION

The reflections will almost inevitably prompt more serious thought about what has happened during the day, and any things that have left you uneasy or with a troubled conscience. You can, if you wish, examine your soul by asking some questions about your own attitudes, thoughts and behaviour.

The fact is, as human beings we are extraordinarily adept at deceiving ourselves, and therefore, from time to time, in an act of confession before God, we need to be absolutely honest with ourselves and with God. We need to acknowledge what we are truly like and ask God to help us to amend our ways and to become the people he would have us be. Do not wallow in your time of confession; that’s a form of self-indulgence. Once you have confessed to God, move on. Think not of yourself but of others.

PRAYER

Offer prayers of thanksgiving for the day that has passed. If there are things that concern you, place those also in God’s hands. Chew over them for a while if you like, but try not to worry over them like a dog worrying a bone. God knows you and your concerns and looks on you with love. And then, finally, as an act of trust say: ‘Our Father’.

CONCLUSION

Then, simply hand yourself over to God. Leave your thoughts, your worries and the day that has passed with him, knowing that his redeeming and healing love are always at work, reconciling all things to himself.