Welcoming the Holy
Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God.
By: Sister Melissa Gernon
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, Transform our hearts by Your Word of Life, enrich us with every gift of the Spirit, and bring peace to this broken world. Amen.
Reading
Psalm 138:1-3, and 6-8
I will give thanks to You, oh Lord, with all my heart, for You have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels, I will sing Your praise. I will worship at Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name.
Because of Your kindness and Your truth; You have made great above all things Your name and Your promise. When I called, You answered me; You built up strength within me.
The Lord is exalted, yet the lowly He sees, and the proud He knows from afar. Though I walk amid distress, You preserve me; against the anger of my enemies, You raise Your hand.
Your right hand saves me, the Lord will complete what He has done for me; Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever; forsake not the work of Your hands.
Reflection
During this most challenging time in our country and our Church, I have felt that God is hidden from me. The last thing I feel like doing is praising God. It feels difficult to trust in God sometimes. Have you felt that way? Yet, this is exactly the right time to trust in God and praise God for all God does in and with us. Look for the small moments of goodness and kindness in your daily life. Those are the things that can sustain you and build strength within you, as the psalmist writes.
God knows and feels your hurt, your sorrow, your anger, your joy. God knows all of it. Lean into your faith, God can handle it. At the event for the Sisters of Saint Joseph 375th Anniversary this past week, one of the speakers gave this piece of advice when asked how to respond in love to the person or people who are on opposite sides of issues from ourselves: Ask God for mercy on them. So I ask God for mercy on them and myself. It is the only way to praise God, to trust in God, and to have strength to endure when I walk in distress.
Closing Prayer
God, renew us by the truth of Your Word and by Your Love. Animate us with peace that will sustain us through the difficult moments. You call us to Love as You Love, and so give us the mercy and strength that is needed to do just that. Amen.