THERE ARE GOSPEL SCENES where Jesus is present in the synagogue, the local meeting house of the Jewish community: a place for study, prayer, court and communal gathering. By contrast, the temple was the singular house of worship in Jerusalem where sacrifices took place. Below is a Jewish Evening Prayer prayed in the synagogue. Perhaps Jesus would have heard and prayed a prayer like this:
Grant, O eternal God, that we may lie down in peace, and raise us up, O Sovereign, to life renewed. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace; guide us with Your good counsel; and for Your Name's sake, be our Help. Shield us from hatred and plague; keep us from war and famine and anguish; subdue our inclination to evil. O God, our Guardian and Helper, our gracious and merciful Ruler, give us refuge in the shadow of Your wings. O guard our coming and our going, that now and always we may have life and peace. Blessed be the Lord, Guardian of His people Israel forever. Amen.
