THURSDAY, June 4 (The First Book of Common Prayer)

This parable is about persistence in prayer, but before the persistence comes prayer itself. In  Mark 9:29, when Jesus' disciples asked him why they were unable to drive out a demon, Jesus replied, "This kind can come out only through prayer." Apparently the disciples had forgotten the basics.

Each spring, my parish holds a yard sale for outreach. During prayer group, I lifted up this  venture--especially the cashier. Our veteran cashier had moved. Now I was cashier, and I was anxious. I am pretty good with math and money. What I am not good at is team leadership. I was going to have to tell my assistants what to do, as I learned on the job myself. Nightmares ushered in the day of the sale and then, during the first hour, became reality. But as the sale progressed, self-consciousness diminished, giving the Holy Spirit opportunity. By the time of the final accounting, I knew just the task for each helper. And it was definitely not I who was leading. It was God carrying me.

By all means, persist in prayer. But often one prayer is all it takes.

PRAY for the Diocese of Cape Coast (Ghana, West Africa)

Ps 50 * [59, 60] or 8, 84;  Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:14-20; 2 Corinthians 8:1-16