My Thoughts on 16/12/2020

Friends of mine posted on Facebook the letter their daughter has written to Santa. She asked Santa to help her Mum and Dad, because they work hard and look after her and her sister.

Her P.S was, “Make my wish come true”. As adults we are not writing letters to Santa, but we are people of intercession. Jesus has said, “Ask, and it will be given 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. “

In this time of pandemic, the Bishops of England and Wales have instructed that “the Homily at Mass be brief to minimize the time the people are congregating in the church building. The prayers of the faithful should be omitted.” I miss the opportunity at Mass, to pray for the Church and the world. It is important to intercede, not because God is some sort of divine Santa but to acknowledge first our need to God and also to discern what God wants. As we continue to deal with the consequences of Covid-19, we naturally turn to God in prayer.

I find it very helpful as I pray about a problem I have, or for a person in need to first of all say to God, “Lord how do you want me to pray about this? What is your will? Here are my anxieties, worries and needs but what is your will? Help me to understand what you are saying to me.”

Here is the opening prayer for today’s Mass:

Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that the coming solemnity of your Son
may bestow healing upon us in this present life
and bring us the rewards of life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
(one) God, for ever and ever.