He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
Luke 13:18–19 ESV
The Daily Office, while a beautiful gift from the Anglican Tradition, can seem intimidating. In total, it asks for one to two hours of prayer a day. Also, it requires a certain level of attention and presence that can be difficult for many—from the CEO, with demanding employees, to the parent, absorbed by caring for their children, often setting aside their own needs. Sitting down for prayer in these cases can feel like a chore, rather than a much needed pause in the day.
But, praying (even if for two seconds) is better than nothing at all.
Prayer can be like the parable of the mustard seed—we need faith to grow in our hearts. While the mustard seed appears small, there is abundant life hiding inside. Tending that small seed, it grows into a tree that provides shelter for many birds and animals. God, who gives life, can turn what is small in human eyes into something beautiful. So, we learn that in prayer, it is the life of faith hidden inside prayer that is the most important. Even if it is a small moment, we faithfully entrust ourselves to the God who gives life to all creation.
So, respecting the busy, chaotic, and distracting world that we live in, the Anglican Tradition has Family Prayer. It was created with families of small children in mind. With limited attention spans, time is of the essence in prayer. Yet, the name does not limit these offices only to families. This is also called “Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families” (from the 1979 prayerbook). Individuals are encouraged to use this so they can pray something, rather than nothing at all.
You can find these prayers in your 2019 Book of Common Prayer between pages 66-78. Also, Anglican House Publishers are releasing an illustrated version of Family Prayer in November. You can pre-order it here.
So, if you are limited by time or attention, do not be intimidated by the gift of the Daily Office. Praying is a time to spend with God. And some days we need to do something, rather than nothing. God, as the subject of prayer, is more important than any time we give or the perceived “effort” on our part.
Nicole Kallsen, Curate