Reflection “Surely, I wait for the LORD; who bends down to me and hears my cry, Draws me up from the pit of destruction, out of the muddy clay, Sets my feet upon rock, steadies my steps, And puts a new song in my mouth, a hymn to

Prayer

God our deliverer,

It is often hard to wait on you and listen for your voice, especially when we feel ourselves sinking in the midst of challenging circumstances. For all those today who are sick, suffering, or otherwise in need of deliverance, we ask you to hear their cries and respond to their prayers. Use us as your instruments of healing today so that, to the best of our ability, we might guide them to wholeness through compassionate actions that can restore their footing, steady their steps, and revive their hope yet again. As we all learn to wait on you, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “To make the improving of our own character our central aim is hardly the highest kind of goodness. True goodness forgets itself and goes out to do the right thing for no other reason than that it is right.” –Lesslie Newbigi

Prayer

Always good God,

Our lives are always driven by a mixture of motives, yet we invite you to purify our hearts today, so that our service on behalf of others will better reflect the generous blessings of your own goodness and love. No matter what we’ve been called to do today, empower us to do it selflessly and for the right reasons. With hope and expectation, use our words and deeds to transform the brokenness around us while providing new paths of healing and wholeness, in service to the common good. Amen.

Reflection “Choose to be optimistic. It feels better.” –the Dalai Lama Prayer Liberating God, In the course of a day we are confronted with many events beyond our control. It’s tempting at times to feel like victims of circumstanc

Prayer

Liberating God,

In the course of a day we are confronted with many events beyond our control. It’s tempting at times to feel like victims of circumstance, tempted to negativity. When this kind of pessimism starts to swell in our hearts, help us to stop, retrieve our composure, and remember the freedom you have won for us. May we freely choose to have a better attitude filled with a hope that can inspire us and overflow to those around us. Amen.

Reflection “The planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. . . . It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to

Prayer

Gracious Spirit,

Our culture invites us to adopt a narrow vision of success, driven by self-preservation, self-realization, and self-promotion. Yet these are the buzz words of a lonely existence, over-inflated with self-concern. As a ministry called to turn outward in service to others, help us keep our focus on what truly matters for the life and vitality of our communities, so that we may continue providing good help where it’s needed most. In pursuit of peace and healing, compassion and belonging, love and cooperation, we pray.  Amen.

Bon Secours Day

Bon Secours Day

Prayer

Loving God,

We gather in Your presence today to celebrate the Sisters of Bon Secours and the many ways they have shared Your healing, compassion, and liberation so faithfully, for over two hundred years. We take time as well to renew our commitment to the mission we share with them, as Bon Secours Mercy Health, mindful of our calling to extend their legacy by continuing to bring good help to those in need, both in the United States and in Ireland. Inspire us by Your Spirit and give us Your joy, as we use our gifts in the service of others. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Reflection “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.” ~ Paul Valery Prayer God of dreams, As children, we dreamed about what we wanted to be when we grew up, and we lived out those dreams through our playtime.

Prayer
God of dreams,
As children, we dreamed about what we wanted to be when we grew up, and we lived out those dreams through our playtime. As adults, we still dream, but sometimes that is as far as it goes. Help us to know more deeply that your desire for us is to live out our dreams in ways that will benefit the world, and that bringing them into reality will bring good to others. Your desire for us to live fully allows us to wake from our dreams and move forward in putting them into action. Trusting in you, we pray. Amen.

Reflection “We tend to misunderstand the link between joy and gratefulness.  We notice that joyful people are grateful and suppose that they are grateful for their joy.  But the reverse is true: Their joy springs from gratefu

Prayer
God of joy,
When we enter each day with a grateful heart, we soon realize the joy it brings to our lives and how our days seem to flow more easily. You teach us to be grateful for all we have been given, and then to share that with others, once again bringing joy to life. Guide us through each day to be grateful: for all our interactions, the activities in which we participate, and for the people we meet. May our gratitude for all that you provide bring joy, not only to ourselves, but to others too. Amen.