Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy Sunday

Prayer

Merciful God,

We are indeed bewildered and overwhelmed at times by the darkness pervading the world we inhabit. So then today especially, on Divine Mercy Sunday, we ask you to open our hearts so we might be renewed and refreshed by the gift of your mercy. Let mercy transform us and help us to remain steadfast in pursuit of our calling. Together, make us ever more effective agents of your compassionate, healing love to a world in need. Amen.

Reflection “It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.” –Martin Lu

Prayer

God over all,

Everything you’ve made is woven together in a single “garment of destiny.” We don’t always act like it, but we are nonetheless called to ensure that everything we do and say respects this singular network of life that holds us together, as creatures before you. Help us to grow in wisdom and love as we answer this calling, so we may flourish as stewards of the Earth and all life. For the sake of all the diversity of life and vitality around us, and our own sake as well, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “You shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.” –Maya Angelou Prayer Giver of all that is good, Life is all about giving and receiving, in freedom and lo

Prayer

Giver of all that is good,

Life is all about giving and receiving, in freedom and love. Learning to acknowledge the gifts that have been so generously handed to us and then finding ways to pass those gifts on, especially to those who are most in need of them. Inspire us today, to open our eyes to those who are most in need of the gifts we possess, spiritually as much as materially. May we be willing and able to share all our gifts in freedom and love, so that those we encounter will be empowered in turn, to give something back for the common good. Amen.

Reflection “We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world.” –St. Teresa of Calcutta Prayer Love divine, It may be the most selfless prayer we can offer: to become so aligned with your

Prayer

Love divine,

It may be the most selfless prayer we can offer: to become so aligned with your mission that we are completely directed, guided, and empowered by you—into the lives of others, to serve them in their time of need. Liberate each one of us today, to make such a prayer our own, with authenticity and joy. And humbly, in exchange, we ask you to fill us with the kind of energy and resilience that can overcome our exhaustion and the heartache we so often encounter. May we be so filled with Easter’s vitality that we are eager to be sent out again, as love letters from you to our patients and families, our neighbors and colleagues, and our broader communities. Amen.

Reflection “The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” –Rachel Carson Prayer Lover of life, For too long we’ve had a taste for

Prayer

Lover of life,

For too long we’ve had a taste for destruction, harboring apathy about the long-term consequences of our actions upon the common home we inhabit. Yet we see more and more how the world you created is straining beneath the weight of our irresponsible actions. As we strive now to restore and protect your creation, inspire us not with burdensome guilt or a sense of anxiety, but with joy and wonder. Restore to us a child-like wonder, which will ignite in us a love for your creation and a desire to treasure it for the gift that it is. As people of hope and a ministry united, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “The light of God surrounds us; The love of God enfolds us; The power of God protects us; The presence of God watches over us; Wherever we are, God is!” –James Dillet Freeman Prayer God who journeys with us, We offer a

Prayer

God who journeys with us,

We offer a special prayer today for those who serve so faithfully at the bedside. We speak a blessing over them and ask you to be their wellspring of mercy, compassion, and stamina. By faith we believe that your presence goes with us in all that we do. In every room we enter, in every encounter, in every challenge and triumph and even in failure. Yes, you are with us. Let all caregivers be that much more aware of your presence today. And may our patients and families be all the more comforted, having encountered a peace beyond understanding, in the words and deeds of those who care for them. Amen.

Reflection “We can never untangle all the woes in other people’s lives. But we can bring a cup of cool water to a thirsty soul, or a scoop of laughter to a lonely heart.” –Barbara Johnson Prayer God of my neighbor, The social prob

Prayer

God of my neighbor,

The social problems we face today are multilayered, complex, and often resistant to change. Yet it takes no great skill or expertise to be an agent of change for the plight of a neighbor in need. All it takes is a heart still open to the call of compassion, kindness, and basic decency. Remind us today, that even if we cannot untangle all the issues affecting those we encounter, nevertheless we can all do something to honor each person’s dignity, and to alleviate their burden in a tangible way. As children before you, help us take care of each other. Amen.