The Power of Prayer
My Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Today is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, which is also called Transfiguration Sunday based on the gospel readings for the day. The account from Luke, unlike the account from Matthew and Mark, occurs within the context of prayer. From Luke’s perspective, prayer was important for Jesus and involved, at times, a dramatic encounter with God. Prayer was not merely speaking words to God but was a truly spiritual experience of God. It is important for us to note that a dramatic divine encounter with God is not limited to Jesus, evidenced by the experience of the disciples on the day of Pentecost. While we may not have this dramatic kind of experience every time we pray “the transfiguration should challenge us to seek something higher in prayer than speaking mere words in the hope that God might possibly somehow listen to us.” (David Lose)
It is my hope that in our “seeking” we may discover the following Ps of prayer:
- Purpose: to communicate with God and to develop a relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit. David Lose opines, “We pray because it is a vital way of remaining in a relationship, just as we may pour out our hearts to a friend, lover, or family member not in the expectation that they are going to do something about it but because we need someone to share with. As we share the relationship grows stronger.”
- Practice: Jesus was not only the teacher of prayer but an example of prayer especially in the gospel of Luke. As disciples of Jesus, we are to take prayer seriously, yet we struggle with prayer and are often afraid to pray in public. As disciples, we should lift up to God our joys, concerns, dreams, fears, hopes and anxieties.
- Power: The Bible is replete with examples of the power of prayer which we can tap into. Evidence of this is seen in the transformed lives of many Christians through the centuries, especially the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to.
Margaret Guenther reminds us that “true prayer, whatever outward form it might take, is first and foremost a condition of loving attentiveness to God in which we find ourselves open and receptive to who we are in our deepest selves.” It is my hope that, as we enter the Lenten season and engage in the second 24/7 Prayer next week, we will grasp the opportunity to participate in the other Lenten practices associated with this penitential season.
Have a blessed week immersed in prayer.
Yours in Christ,
Patrick+
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
Advent calls us to Emmanuel—God with us—bringing hope after Hurricane Melissa as we share Christ’s love through compassion and service.
On this Third Sunday of Advent, let us focus on Joy rooted in Emmanuel - God with us - who brings hope, healing, and light beyond suffering.
Second Sunday of Advent: a message of Peace, Hope, and Christ’s presence as we rebuild after Hurricane Melissa and renew our mission as God’s people.
A reflection on the First Sunday of Advent—celebrating hope, Christ’s coming, and faith that sustains us through challenges like Hurricane Melissa.
In a year of loss after Hurricane Melissa, we give thanks for life, courage, and resilience, trusting Christ the King who reigns and restores amid our trials.
Amid the hurricane devastation, we cling to God’s steadfast love, support affected communities, give relief, pray, and trust that His goodness will rebuild and renew Jamaica.
Though Hurricane Melissa brought devastation, we stand united in faith, hope, and love - trusting God to restore, rebuild, and renew us.
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
Advent calls us to Emmanuel—God with us—bringing hope after Hurricane Melissa as we share Christ’s love through compassion and service.
On this Third Sunday of Advent, let us focus on Joy rooted in Emmanuel - God with us - who brings hope, healing, and light beyond suffering.
Second Sunday of Advent: a message of Peace, Hope, and Christ’s presence as we rebuild after Hurricane Melissa and renew our mission as God’s people.
A reflection on the First Sunday of Advent—celebrating hope, Christ’s coming, and faith that sustains us through challenges like Hurricane Melissa.
In a year of loss after Hurricane Melissa, we give thanks for life, courage, and resilience, trusting Christ the King who reigns and restores amid our trials.
Amid the hurricane devastation, we cling to God’s steadfast love, support affected communities, give relief, pray, and trust that His goodness will rebuild and renew Jamaica.
Though Hurricane Melissa brought devastation, we stand united in faith, hope, and love - trusting God to restore, rebuild, and renew us.
On All Saints’ Day, amid Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, we find hope that faith endures, love rebuilds, and that God and the Saints strengthen us to rise again.
Aging isn’t decline - it is growth. Like Paul, keep learning, stay courageous, and live with purpose, faith, and a renewed spirit at every age.
Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit renews, empowers, and unites us to boldly live and share God’s love in the world.
St. Luke’s Church marks 150 years of faith, compassion, and healing - honouring our past, serving today, and embracing a hopeful, holistic future.
United as one body, we are renewed in Christ to rise above division, seek the lost, and share God’s restoring love with our communities.
Health Month calls us to renew body, mind, spirit, and relationships - living the abundant life through God’s power, love, and discipline.
As God’s stewards, we must care for our health and the Earth. Live well, act responsibly, and promote healing for all creation.
Breast cancer is not the end—it’s a call to faith, courage, and vigilance. Early detection saves lives.
Health Month reminds us that true wellness comes through prayer, healing, and forgiveness—nurturing body, mind, and spirit in God’s grace.
The Enthronement of the Rt Rev Leon Paul Golding 15th Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
at the Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega on September 28, 2025.
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
Advent calls us to Emmanuel—God with us—bringing hope after Hurricane Melissa as we share Christ’s love through compassion and service.
On this Third Sunday of Advent, let us focus on Joy rooted in Emmanuel - God with us - who brings hope, healing, and light beyond suffering.
Second Sunday of Advent: a message of Peace, Hope, and Christ’s presence as we rebuild after Hurricane Melissa and renew our mission as God’s people.
A reflection on the First Sunday of Advent—celebrating hope, Christ’s coming, and faith that sustains us through challenges like Hurricane Melissa.
In a year of loss after Hurricane Melissa, we give thanks for life, courage, and resilience, trusting Christ the King who reigns and restores amid our trials.
Amid the hurricane devastation, we cling to God’s steadfast love, support affected communities, give relief, pray, and trust that His goodness will rebuild and renew Jamaica.
Though Hurricane Melissa brought devastation, we stand united in faith, hope, and love - trusting God to restore, rebuild, and renew us.
On All Saints’ Day, amid Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, we find hope that faith endures, love rebuilds, and that God and the Saints strengthen us to rise again.
Aging isn’t decline - it is growth. Like Paul, keep learning, stay courageous, and live with purpose, faith, and a renewed spirit at every age.
Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit renews, empowers, and unites us to boldly live and share God’s love in the world.
St. Luke’s Church marks 150 years of faith, compassion, and healing - honouring our past, serving today, and embracing a hopeful, holistic future.
United as one body, we are renewed in Christ to rise above division, seek the lost, and share God’s restoring love with our communities.
Health Month calls us to renew body, mind, spirit, and relationships - living the abundant life through God’s power, love, and discipline.
As God’s stewards, we must care for our health and the Earth. Live well, act responsibly, and promote healing for all creation.
Breast cancer is not the end—it’s a call to faith, courage, and vigilance. Early detection saves lives.
Health Month reminds us that true wellness comes through prayer, healing, and forgiveness—nurturing body, mind, and spirit in God’s grace.
The Enthronement of the Rt Rev Leon Paul Golding 15th Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
at the Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega on September 28, 2025.
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
Advent calls us to Emmanuel—God with us—bringing hope after Hurricane Melissa as we share Christ’s love through compassion and service.
On this Third Sunday of Advent, let us focus on Joy rooted in Emmanuel - God with us - who brings hope, healing, and light beyond suffering.
Second Sunday of Advent: a message of Peace, Hope, and Christ’s presence as we rebuild after Hurricane Melissa and renew our mission as God’s people.
A reflection on the First Sunday of Advent—celebrating hope, Christ’s coming, and faith that sustains us through challenges like Hurricane Melissa.
In a year of loss after Hurricane Melissa, we give thanks for life, courage, and resilience, trusting Christ the King who reigns and restores amid our trials.
Amid the hurricane devastation, we cling to God’s steadfast love, support affected communities, give relief, pray, and trust that His goodness will rebuild and renew Jamaica.
Though Hurricane Melissa brought devastation, we stand united in faith, hope, and love - trusting God to restore, rebuild, and renew us.
