Knee time - Rector's Rambling for March 1, 2020

Knee time.  That is the expression glibly used to refer to prayer time in the chapel at my seminary.  When we were stressed, or overwhelmed, the prescription from the faculty and spiritual director was to make more time for knee time.

As we begin Lent, with all its extra classes, giving things up, and special devotions, one of the best things to do is to make a special emphasis on more time in prayer, both corporate and private.

Corporate prayer is prayer that we do together.  Holy Communion, Evening Prayer, and Stations of the Cross are all prayers that we do in a group setting.  Stations and Evening Prayer can also be done individually, but there is a special grace for those coming together in a small or large group to pray together.  Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”. (Matthew 18:20).  The Book of Common Prayer implies in it’s very title that it is prayer done in common!  Praying with others uplifts us and helps is to connect with God as well as with others.  It is highly encouraged, and as you see from the parish schedule, there are plenty of opportunities to do this at St. John’s during the week.

Morning and Evening Prayer, the Stations of the Cross, and other devotions such as the Rosary can also be prayed privately, and their foundation in Scripture which points us back to Jesus, is a helpful aid in the life of prayer that we are called to do.  Their solid foundation helps us with the habit of prayer – to pray regularly.

And of course, we also need to learn to spend time in personal prayer.  This is that time of intimate conversation – speaking directly to Our Lord, and pouring out our praises, gratitude, petitions, and intercessions in our own words.

As my favorite professor at seminary used to say, “if you make time for prayer, you will find you have more time for everything else”, and I have found this to be true, over and over again!  So, this Lent, let us be dedicated to more and more knee time!

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ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.