Become like Children

*** The German original for this text was posted here yesterday.

Before Corona, we came together for our own kind of Evensong at Berlin Cathedral. An English-German prayer with lots of music. Not many tourists in Berlin these days, or any people who might require English translation to pray? And no evening devotions at Berlin Cathedral - too complicated, staff would need to be paid to guarantee distance and hygiene - and the Cathdral is struggling because it was the tourists' visitng fees that paid for keeping the church open during the weeks. And so we miss Evensong. Holger realized that and so he keeps sending us the Thursday "Eventext", his thoughtful and inspirational prayers relating to a Bible text, and thanks to Hugh, with a gift to capture the essence and mood of a text in his translations: here it is, this weeks Eventext.
The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18, 1-5)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 

We pray: God, light of truth, we like to put ourselves up front and boast of all the special things we have done so as to stand out before others. This is not so much about the success we have, but rather about who we are. We ask you, rouse us with your Spirit that we turn back and not allow ourselves to be distracted by these external things. Help us discover our true nature and learn better and better to think and act from within your divine presence.

God, light of truth, we have our ideas of other people, of how to live together and of the rules that should govern us. We are often harsh in our judgments, pushing people to the margins; we turn away from love and inflict harm on the dignity of others. We ask you, rouse us with your Spirit to turn back and help others in the blossoming of their true nature for the benefit of all. Help us not to avert our eyes from where we are needed and learn better and better to think and act from within your divine presence.

God, light of truth, there are many inequalities among people. And this results in envy, hatred and war. We look with hostility on the quirks of others and so widen the distance between us. We think in particular of those who are excluded because of their external appearance, their way of life and their beliefs. We ask you rouse us with your Spirit that we turn back and learn humbly to reach out and walk paths of reconciliation. Help us not to remain silent when peace is transgressed, and people are driven into hopelessness so that the face of your divine presence shines in this world.

Everything that moves us or burdens our hearts we bring before you, God, in silent prayer. And for all those worries and concerns that we can never truly express with words, let us say the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

May God bless you!