With Sighs Too Deep For Words

In our Tuesday Holy Communion service this week we heard the Book of Common Prayer readings for Rogation Sunday which I thought were particularly lovely.

From the Old Testament we heard Hosea 6: 1-3

"Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn, that he may heal us; he has stricken, and he will bind us up. --- Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."

From the Psalms we said together Psalm 145: 15-21 "The eyes of all wait upon thee O Lord..."

From the Gospel we heard John 16:23b-33 ending with the familiar but still wonderful words of Jesus, "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." I still want to put an exclamation mark at the end of that. I have overcome the world!

And from the New Testament we heard Romans 8:18-27. I realise this is in the wrong order but these verses really stood out for me.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."

Oh soooo many times in my messy moments this has been true. Those wordless prayers have become at times my only prayers, my constant prayer. With sighs too deep for words. I can always take comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit steps in at these times.

Then I read this... just the right words.

Let us all join in the 'Prayer of Exhaustion' with and for all those in need.