Reflection   “Wisdom is the recovery of innocence at the far end of experience; it is the ability to see again what most of us have forgotten how to see.” –David Bentley Hart   Prayer   All-wise God,  Empower us to better serve our patie

Prayer

All-wise God,

Empower us to better serve our patients and families and all those we encounter by seeing them with your eyes, beholding them in the goodness and beauty of their creation before you. As hard as it is, and as obscure as our vision so often becomes, help us to reclaim some measure of the purity of heart we possessed in our youth, even amidst the pain and suffering we continue to witness. Give us the wisdom that commits us to your mission, so we might continue advocating for dignity in a broken world, still able to see what others may have forgotten how to see. Amen.

Independence Day, U.S.

Independence Day, U.S.

Prayer

God of Justice and Truth,

We ask your blessing on our nation. Thank you for the freedoms we enjoy, especially those we take for granted. Thank you for the diversity of our people and enlarge our capacity for tolerance and mutual respect. As we celebrate our independence as a sovereign nation, may we also celebrate our interdependence. Make us mindful of the blessings of our rich and abundant land. May your gracious Spirit inspire us to work together to meet the challenges of our times. With all hope, faith, and trust in your, we pray. Amen.

     

 
    Reflection   “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” –Rumi   Prayer   Almighty God,  At times our world seems filled with so much tumult and strife, division and chaos. We want

Prayer

Almighty God,

At times our world seems filled with so much tumult and strife, division and chaos. We want to change it for the better. Where do we start? Lead us inward, believing in the way you are bringing real change to the world starting within and through us. Help us lean not on our own understanding but to follow the examples of those who, through their own transformation and response to adversity, inspired others to do the same, thereby spreading love and mercy far and wide. Amen.

     

 
    Reflection   “To better the future, we must disturb the present.” –Catherine Booth   Prayer   God of tomorrow,  We ask you to fill us today with the courage to disrupt complacency and challenge the injustice we see, so that we may pave t

Prayer

God of tomorrow,

We ask you to fill us today with the courage to disrupt complacency and challenge the injustice we see, so that we may pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. Guide us to shake the foundations of apathy while at the same time sowing seeds of compassion, so that your kingdom of love and righteousness may flourish. As a ministry united by your vision of healing, give us the grace to participate with you more fully and to bring more of your dream for the world into reality. Amen.

Memorial of St. Oliver Plunkett

Memorial of St. Oliver Plunkett

Prayer

Eternal love,

We give thanks today for the life and witness of St. Oliver Plunkett, who refused to deny his great love for you or for the people you put in his care. Even when he was unjustly hunted and ultimately martyred for his convictions, the depth of his love for you and your people empowered him to stand strong in his faith. May we be empowered in the same way today, to love and serve your people with courage and conviction. Continue to hold us in the palm of your hand, as we strive to extend your compassionate ministry to all those in need. Amen.

     

 
    Reflection   “God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being.” –Book of Wisdom 1:13-14   Prayer   God of life,  As people of faith, we know that death

Prayer

God of life,

As people of faith, we know that death is not your creation, but is instead a consequence of our human frailty and weakness. Help us to grasp more fully the sanctity of life and cherish the gift of existence you have bestowed upon us. As a healing ministry called by your name, lead us to align ourselves with your purposes by nurturing life in all its forms, knowing that in your infinite wisdom, you have crafted each being with purpose and love. Amen.

     

 
    Reflection   “When looking at faults, use a mirror, not a telescope.” –Yazid Ibrahim   Prayer   Compassionate God,  We are prone to overlook our own faults while pointing out the smallest flaws in others. Give us wisdom to see in new way

Prayer

Compassionate God,

We are prone to overlook our own faults while pointing out the smallest flaws in others. Give us wisdom to see in new ways. Help us recognize our own faults with clarity and to reflect upon them in constructive and healthy directions. And when it comes to the flaws in others, help us to cultivate grace and compassion that leads us to strengthen our bonds together, just as you have shown us grace and compassion, inviting us ever so gently to a deeper experience of wholeness. Amen.