Father, we pray for all lonely people,

    especially those who, coming home to an empty house,

    stand at the door hesitant and afraid to enter.

May all who stand in any doorway with fear in their hearts,

    like the two on the Emmaus road,

    ask the living One in.

Then, by his grace, may they find that in loneliness

    they are never alone,

    and that he peoples all empty rooms

    with his presence.

prayer from New Zealand

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As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.