Praying Hands

Good evening, everybody. I hope today has brought you many blessings, as well as, no doubt, some challenges.

I am sure many of you know Albrecht Dürer’s ‘Praying Hands’.

I have found this an inspirational picture for many years. I find the drawing itself very powerful. Some of you will also know the apocryphal story of how his brother worked for years so that he could train as an artist. Consequently, by the time Dürer could work to support his brother, the brother’s hands were too impaired hold a pen or paintbrush. So Albrecht created this drawing, which speaks so movingly to us today.

St Luke speaks of Jesus laying his hands on children, as a demonstration of God’s acceptance of us all.

The Little Children and Jesus

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’

Luke 18: 15–17 ®NIV

Rt Revd John Pritchard, former Bishop of Oxford, suggests the following activity, which I recommend for our prayers this evening:

Close your eyes and lay your hands, palm upwards, becoming aware of issues and concerns of the day. Hold all these things in your hands.
Turn your hands over and feel those issues and concerns slipping away – falling out of your hands, into the hands of God. Feel the lightness of your hands.
Turn them palm upwards again, noticing that they are open, no longer carrying a burden, but ready to receive all that God can give you.
Become aware of what God is offering you, and thank him for it. Ask God which of the things you gave to him he wants you to take back, and ask for his help in responding to what he wants you to do.

The Second Intercessions Handbook (2015), John Pritchard

I pray that God will help each of us to use our hands
as he would wish during this time of isolation.

God bless you all.

Rosemary Kearsey