Thoughts for the Day

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Were you lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent who encouraged you to say your prayers every night before you went to bed and fell asleep? Or perhaps they said prayers for you when you were very young. Do you remember the most common ones:

• Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
  bless the bed that I lie on.
  Four corners to my bed,
  Four angels round my head;
  One to watch and one to pray
  And two to bear my soul away.

It was first printed in 1656 but goes back many centuries before that.

Or do you remember this one:

• Now I lay me down to sleep,
  I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
  May God guard me through the night,
  And wake me with the morning light.

Or this slightly different version:

• Now I lay me down to sleep.
  I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
  If I should live another day
  I pray the Lord to guide my way.

Jesus says we should all be on the watch for His return, and we need a clear conscience and a restful night when we go to bed. We are called to put ourselves right with God each night, and perhaps need to resurrect our night prayer - if a little more adult?

Heavenly Father,
we commend ourselves this day (night) to You.
Forgive our sin whether intentional or not,
Help us to live (rest) secure this day (night)
in the knowledge that You are with us,
and that you have our safety at heart.
May we continue to look forward
to the coming of Your Son,
and to the fulfilment of Your Kingdom.
Amen.