Growing up, I was taught to pray the Guardian Angel prayer: ‘Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day/night be at my side to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.’ Now as a parent and grandparent, I pray each day for God’s protection for my children and grandchildren.

Before his arrest, suffering and death, Jesus asked the Father to protect the disciples who are left bewildered, frightened and dispersed by his shameful crucifixion. It seems that this prayer for protection has failed them as they scatter and lose hope. Yet, it is this prayer that carries them through their darkest days and enables them to encounter the Risen Christ and with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they become the great missionaries taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.   

Sometimes, our prayers appear to go unanswered and often, the timing of their impact is not what we want. But like Jesus, we place our trust in our heavenly Father, who knows what is best for us and those we love, even when circumstances suggest that our prayers have failed.

As members of the Body of Christ, our prayerful intercession embraces the suffering of all our brothers and sisters as we ask, ‘Holy Father, protect them in your name from all danger and shelter them in your loving embrace.’ Amen.

By Mike Humphrys