Jesus had remarkable ability to stop and focus. A beggar calls and those around Jesus find themselves bumping into each other as he does the unexpected and apparently unimportant – stop and listen to the cry of a roadside beggar.

What’s even more remarkable to me is that this happens on Jesus’ final push towards his execution. By now he has told his friends that he is to be arrested, tortured and executed. I find it hard sometimes with what I know I might face to have a wide bandwidth of compassion – his compassion has no boundaries.

This is a great template for prayer – it begins simply with “Lord have mercy” (Kyrie Eleison) – part of liturgy for private and corporate worship for centuries. We imagine Jesus asking “What do you want me to do for you?” and wait in silence to see where we are led.

We say it is hard to pray, but perhaps we miss the simplicity of the beggar’s cry as an easy opening to prayer. We are met with the face of the compassionate Jesus – offering help from his wounded, risen hands.

A Lenten Prayer for Today

Lord, have mercy on me. I hold out my hands to you for forgiveness, faith for the journey, courage to do right and power to love those who come across my path. Thank you for stopping to listen to me today.… For Jesus’ sake

© April2, 2012 Touchstone Ministries Inc.