Praying at Night – February 7, 2024
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 119:97-120; PM Psalm 81, 82
Gen. 27:1-29; Rom. 12:1-8; John 8:12-20
When I was a child, my mom would put me to bed and say prayers with me. We would say, “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” There is evidently a different version of this prayer – updated from the 18th century version my mom taught me – that has a cheerier ending: “May angels watch me through the night, And wake me with the morning light.”
I did not ruminate much on the “dying before I wake” part. I put much more energy into naming all the people for whom I prayed at night. I would go on and on and on. Close kin, distant kin, pets, stuffed animals. If I knew you, I probably named you. One night after my mom nodded off during my great litany of intercessions, she said, “Okay, Katherine. Wrap it up, please.” If she were here now, she would laugh at that story and possibly deny that remark happening.
I tell you this story because there are times when we put energy into prayer, and there are times when we need the structure of an external source to remind us and help us to pray. These reflections come early in the morning, three times a week. John, Mary Bea, and I reflect on scripture, Christian piety, and the challenges of living a life of faith focused upon God. What do you do to guide your prayer life at night?
In our scriptures appointed today from the Gospel according to John, Jesus says, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ (8:12) This is one of the verses of holy scripture that opens Daily Evening Prayer, Rite II. While often I spend time reflecting on the Bible, today I offer some accessible sources of prayer at the end of the day. There are several options in the Book of Common Prayer. It could be as simple as praying the Song of Simeon (also called the Nunc Dimittis):
Lord, you now have set your servant free
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.
Or maybe you would like to read through all of Evening Prayer (page 115 in the BCP) that pulls readings appointed each day in the Daily Office lectionary. You may be familiar with Compline (page 127 in the BCP), which is near and dear to those who have participated in summer sessions at Camp McDowell. There are also Daily Devotions for Families and Individuals that begin on page 136 in the BCP, with prayers for morning, noon, late day, and at the close of the day.
If sleep is elusive for you, there is also a prayer for sleep (page 461 in the BCP):
O heavenly Father, you give your children sleep for the refreshing of soul and body: Grant me this gift, I pray; keep me in that perfect peace which you have promised to those whose minds are fixed on you; and give me such a sense of your presence, that in the hours of silence I may enjoy the blessed assurance of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Each of these structures is useful in its own way. As we prepare for the start of Lent next week, consider how adding to your life by tacking on a prayer at the end of the day could deepen your connection to God in the days ahead. It could be a great 40-day experiment!
-- Katherine+
Reflection and Challenge
Think about a routine you followed in childhood. Who helped establish that for you? What colors do you think of? What is warm? What is hard? What do you cherish? Hold that memory in thanks to God. Reflect on how that routine has formed you into today.