February 27

Third Tuesday after Epiphany

Though ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Isaiah 1:15.

THE human heart faints through delay; some prayers God hears, some He hears not. How shall we know whether ours be such prayers as He hears? God hears not the prayer of those who will go on in sin. God hears not our prayers if we pray for what will hurt us or will not further our salvation (as when S. Paul prayed for the removal of the thorn in the flesh although He loved him), or if we pray with a double heart; God hears not self-satisfied prayers, or if we pray with lukewarm hearts, or if we have pleasure in evil thoughts, or cherish anger against another, or secret grudge or hard thoughts and words towards one who has wronged us, God then in mercy hears not, that we seeing in ourselves what hinders our prayers and His grace, may by His grace become such as He will hear.

Then like the leper stand and pray aloof; Like the centurion deem thyself unmeet; Like her of Canaan bowed to His reproof, Unworthy of the children's bread to eat; Choose like the accepted guest the lowest seat; Like the sad publican cast down thine eyes, And on thy guilty breast in sorrow beat; Come as one glad a servant's place to prize, And as His long-lost son He will to meet thee rise. Still urge thy quest like that meek Canaanite, As Bartimæus blind cease not to plead; Knock at the door throughout the livelong night Till He within shall answer all thy need; Cry as the widow till the Judge gives heed; He hears thy prayer though seeming not to hear, Counts all the words which from thy heart proceed, To give thee more according to thy fear, And when He seems afar 'tis then He is most near.