That Secret Place
“When you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place” (Mt 6:6). Jesus knew that few of his listeners had a private room (as is the case for many today). The private room can be the secret place of our own heart, where God sees our struggles, but also our deepest desires. “Shutting the door” means cutting out the distractions which disturb our peace, to hear the Father’s voice and respond to him. During Lent, we follow Christ from death to life, trusting that our prayers and efforts for good can bestow blessing to others, near and far. As we pray for peace in Ukraine, we recall that the Cross of Jesus brings salvation and hope to a troubled world. May his loving presence in our secret place light up our lives and inspire us never to give up, since he is always with us.
Prayer for Ukraine
Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suffering or afraid,
that you will be close to them and protect them.
We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.
We pray for the world, that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity
to our brothers and sisters in need.
May we walk in your ways, so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world. Amen.