Reflection “For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt

Prayer

All in all,

Our attitude matters so much in life, for it has the power to transform even those experiences we are tempted to see as distractions or obstacles into occasions for joy and discovery, as we bring them to bear on who we are choosing to become, in the course of the life you have given us. May we use all our experiences this way. To become more and more human, better able to sympathize with others, and more expansive in spirit, ready to lead others to wholeness. For those who are especially struggling with some cause of suffering today, we pray that you would accompany them, have mercy, and send us to show them compassion. Amen.

Reflection “Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near” –Philippians 4:5 Prayer Divine kindness, Save us from thinking that the schedules we keep and the things we have to do are so important that we no longer have tim

Prayer

Divine kindness,

Save us from thinking that the schedules we keep and the things we have to do are so important that we no longer have time for common courtesy or decency or to give a genuine gift of kindness to another. Keep us focused, especially in high-pressure moments when it’s hard to be present, on showing care and concern for everyone you send into our path. Open our eyes to your presence among us in the faces of neighbors, that we might build a reputation of kindness among the people we serve. Amen.

Reflection “Why did God create swarms of bees, prides of lions, herds of deer, schools of fish, and flocks of birds, and only one human couple? So that no one can say to another ‘My ancestry is superior to yours.’” –The Mishnah Praye

Prayer

Love over all,

We are one human family, and we are called to act like it. We often do not. Heal us, therefore, of every inclination to assert division rather than embrace diversity. May we commit to respecting and loving our unity, precisely because it is so wondrously varied, colorful, beautiful. Give us grateful hearts and happy eyes, as we behold all the unique intersections of identities and backgrounds and families that make us the people we are. You see it and love it and call it good. Help us do the same. And we beg for your mercy, when the unity we seek is otherwise fractured by the unholy blindness of pitiful souls still trapped by hatred. Have mercy on us all, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “Unnecessary noise, then, is the most cruel absence of care which can be inflicted either on sick or well.” –Florence Nightingale Prayer Everlasting peace, We are chronically deprived of silence. And yet we know that to

Prayer

Everlasting peace,

We are chronically deprived of silence. And yet we know that to be without silence is to be alienated from ourselves. Distant from that inward space where we can return to our foundations and revive a sense of wholeness. For the sake of our own well-being, grace us today with a peaceful and grounding moment away from unnecessary noise. For the sake of others, may we likewise be mindful of the noises we make in their presence, whether our patients or colleagues or even the acquaintances with whom we share the daily routines. Let our commitment to compassionate care extend even to the atmosphere of sound around us. Amen.

Reflection “Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together.” –Eugene Ionesco Prayer Spirit of unity, The polarizations and tensions we feel in society today are symptoms of a deeper, spiritual blindness. We refuse t

Prayer

Spirit of unity,

The polarizations and tensions we feel in society today are symptoms of a deeper, spiritual blindness. We refuse to see how deeply we belong to each other and we ignore the truth of our being, that we cannot flourish in isolation and division. As a ministry, help us stand out as a people united, beyond all division, by hope and compassion. Let the mission we share with you inspire us to find new paths of dreaming and healing that can bring us together more and more. As one people, called by your name, we pray. Amen.

Feast of St. Brendan

Feast of St. Brendan

Prayer

God of earth and sky,

On this Feast of St. Brendan, we set aside time to rejoice in your spirit of creation. A spirit of life and abundance that so often surprises us with the appearance of color and grandeur in even the most unexpected places, refusing to be covered over by our pavement and buildings and roadways. Open our eyes to creation on this most amazing day, that we might see the earth and sky and all natural creatures through your eyes. Simply by being what they are, they echo your own affirmation, that to be is to be good. To be is beautiful. Amen.

Reflection “At a time when the community is suffering, no one should say, ‘I will go home, eat, drink, and be at peace with myself.’” –The Talmud Prayer God of my neighbor, In a culture reeling from what feels like one heartbreaki

Prayer

God of my neighbor,

In a culture reeling from what feels like one heartbreaking disaster to another, it is so tempting simply to shut our eyes and ears and lock our doors. How long, O Lord, must we struggle with even the most basic affirmations of dignity, respect, and belonging? Give us strength to not shut the door on others’ pain. Fill us instead with stamina and wholesome resilience, to continue expressing your heart of compassion within and for our communities. In solidarity, as one human family, so needy before you. Amen.