Reflection “The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God.” —St. John of Damascus Prayer God with us, As we strive to extend your compassionate ministry today, remind us of your promise never to leave or forsake us. When we

Prayer

God with us,

As we strive to extend your compassionate ministry today, remind us of your promise never to leave or forsake us. When we feel alone or anxious, help us find space and breath to retreat into the goodness of your creation. For however brief that moment, in the beauty of the natural world, refresh our spirits with your presence, that we may return to the day at hand and love the people in need. Amen.

Reflection “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” —C.H. Spurgeon Prayer God our help, Our patients and colleagues will no doubt wrestle thr

Prayer

God our help,

Our patients and colleagues will no doubt wrestle through many tough choices today. As we all face decisions that demand a response, revive our awareness of your deeper calling to practice discernment. Help us frame our decisions by entering a dialogue with your Holy Spirit, waiting and reflecting together, so we might foresee and implement the best direction you have in mind for us. For patients and families, for our collective decisions as a ministry, anchor us in the gift of discernment. Amen.

Reflection “Our descendants will achieve things that will amaze us, yet a portion of what they will create could have been made with today’s materials and tools if we’d had the imagination. Think bigger.” —Kevin Kelly Prayer Creat

Prayer

Creator spirit,

You do not run short on creativity! From the diversity of nature to the remarkable array of skills and gifts you’ve put within us, it is obvious that your love of life invites all of us to participate and share the life-giving work of creation. Help us answer that invitation, as a ministry and as people of conscience, building the world together. Let us be leaders in innovation, committed to serving the common good by applying our imaginations to creative responses to the world’s biggest problems. Amen.

Reflection “This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.” —Pope Leo XIV

Prayer

God of the poor,

In your ministry among us and all throughout Scripture, you challenge us to reframe our vision of those deemed “the least of these,” at least according to human eyes. Through your eyes, rather, these are in fact the most deserving of good news, compassion, and liberating love. What’s more, you explicitly told us to expect our encounters with them to be encounters with you. Make us ever more conscious of that great revelation today, as we extend your mission for all people, especially for those who are poor, dying, and underserved. Amen.

Reflection “Love is divine only and difficult always. If you think it is easy you are a fool. If you think it is natural you are blind. It is a learned application without reason or motive except that it is God.” --Toni Morrison Pra

Prayer

Loving God,

Choosing to love is hard! It shakes our reason and tests our motives and pulls us beyond all comfort. For we find it so easy to love when we get a return; but to love selflessly and purely for the good of the other is truly divine. Inspire us to pursue such a supernatural calling—to go beyond calculation and self-interest in the way we treat others. In all our relationships, at work and at home and all in between, fill our hearts with your living love. For the life of the world, we pray. Amen.

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” —Nelson Mandela Prayer God of life, You taught us to welcome children in your name, revealing that these little ones are in fac

Prayer

God of life,

You taught us to welcome children in your name, revealing that these little ones are in fact the greatest in your sight. Open our eyes to see what you see and love what you love in the face of a child. More than this, help us to change and become such as these, learning the greatness of becoming your children ourselves, that we might receive all as gift and learn to give as you give—generously, abundantly, and without conditions. Amen.