The Book of Common Prayer includes seven daily prayer “offices.”  They are not really services because you can say them by yourself. They are spaced out during the day from the wee, dark hours before sunrise until bedtime. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions have similar cycles of daily prayer. Scholars have found that Jewish practice at the time of Jesus was like this as well. Interestingly, the Muslims are called to prayer five times each day.

Most Christians who are not ordained or working for the church never engage in the rhythm of daily prayer and that is a pity. It is a pity because orienting your life around periodic praise and prayer will change you for the better.  What has always caught my eye during evening prayer is the prayer for mission.

Prayer for Mission

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

Most of the things we ask God to do in this prayer seem reasonable: Give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick. Give rest to the weary. Bless the dying… But “shield the joyous”? From what? What for? If someone is happy, why do they need to be shielded?