Prayer

God of labor,

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Your son Jesus learned much at the elbow of Joseph, watching him create for his community needed products and tools from the goods of creation. May this feast day remind us of the dignity of labor and the importance of work. May we offer the work we do each day as our contribution to advancing the reign of God. In the name of the God who blesses all our labors, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Crucified God,

Today, as our Orthodox sisters and brothers celebrate Good Friday, we pause to join with them in prayer in gratitude for the sacrifice of your son Jesus on the cross. May the example of his sacrificial love inspire within each of us a desire to give of ourselves to improve the lives of others and to create a world where justice and peace reign. May the shadow of the cross stir within us the desire and the courage to embody the sacrificial love of Jesus in our own lives. We pray in the name of Jesus, our crucified Lord. Amen.

Prayer

O God who calls,

You have created and called us for a noble cause, to spread the good news of your love and mercy to all. Grant us the faith to respond with courage to your call. Inspired by the gift of your Holy Spirit, may we strive today and every day to be who you have created and called us to be. May we always seek to discern your voice and strive to embody the truth of your love in our lives. We pray in the name of the God who creates and calls us all. Amen.

Prayer

Almighty and ever-living God,

In so many ways, our culture encourages us to establish our financial security and to define wealth based upon the size of our bank accounts and retirement plans. Yet, you challenge us to define wealth, not as a financial reality, but as an expression of our service to others. Help us today to reimagine the meaning of wealth and to see true wealth as what we are able to do for the benefit of others. Amen.

Prayer

Compassionate God,

As associates of Bon Secours Mercy Health, we are united in our call to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus. Bless us with eyes to see the suffering of others and hearts committed to alleviating that suffering through compassion and care. Stir within us the flame of your love that we may treat each person we meet today with kindness and compassion. We pray in God’s name. Amen.

Prayer

God of justice,

It seems sometimes that we have grown so far apart from one another in our families, in our communities, in our nation, and around the world. Give us the grace of your Holy Spirit that we might see in one another friends rather than enemies. Give us the courage to forge communities of trust and hope and rekindle the bonds that unite us as human beings made in your image and likeness. In your name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

Saving God,

Your son Jesus is our good shepherd, willing to lay down his life for the sheep. As our good shepherd, he speaks to us and we recognize his voice. Open our ears and hearts to the voice of the good shepherd that we might follow him all the days of our life. May we discern his voice in the midst of a noisy world and dedicate our lives to following where the shepherd leads us. We make this prayer through Christ our Risen Lord. Amen.