June 30, 2023

Lord Jesus, You are a God of miracles. You heal mind and body, soul and spirit. You wait for us to come to You, to ask and to tell our story. Although You know our hearts, You still wait as You delight in listening to us. You give new life; You touch wounds and pain and renew our bodies.

We thank You for these gifts of Presence. When we neglect to share our good news and our challenges with You, remind us. When our words are full of complaints and concerns and judgements, remind us. When we are consumed with ourselves, remind us. When “thank You” is far from our lips, nudge us.

All glory and praise and honor be to You, Jesus! In You we place our trust. Amen.

June 29, 2023

Today we celebrate Saints Peter and Paul. We return to our beginnings. We listen. We remember. These two men did not always think alike but they never wavered in their faith in Jesus Christ and all that He taught and lived and did. Their lives were a witness to His mission. Their sufferings mirrored Jesus’ own in some way; their focus on God’s unconditional love was steadfast.

These two men are great models for us. They never denied their heritage or their inner struggles. Always they were truthful about their gifts and shortcomings. Always they looked toward God to be their strength and to Jesus to show them the way. We look to them this day to intercede for us in our struggles to remain steadfast in following Jesus as disciple.

June 28, 2023

The Lord remembers His covenant forever. (Psalm Response for Wednesday, June 28, 2023)

Open your heart in grateful thanks to God. Speak God’s name; sing God’s praise. Tell everyone of God’s great mercy and of His gifts of grace.

Repeat God’s name over and over. Extol Him. Pray to Him. Give Him all the praise that is His due. As God remembers HIs covenant to us, so we also ought to remember our promises to Him. To God be glory and honor and praise.

The Lord remembers His covenant forever.

June 27, 2023

Tropical storms are beginning to make an appearance in the south. Severe thunderstorms and tornados and winds and fires and heat and other disasters fill our daily news. They are labeled as the “unusual”. These throw us off kilter. What we prefer are the “usual” – the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the sky glistened with stars, the trees ladened with leaves providing an abundance of shade. And of course, the music of the birds and the dancing of the squirrels. Nature definitely makes statements on many levels, eager to get our attention!

These ways of nature are so like our inner selves. We delight when all is well (according to us) and argue with God when the struggles appear. When an invitation is provided that will stretch our trust and reliance on God, our first response is to withdraw and wonder about our all loving God. The tough decisions, the overcrowded daily agenda feed the withdrawal. However, God stands firm – right beside us. God invites us to grasp His hand, to look deep within our heart and remember. He is our God today, tomorrow, always.

June 26, 2023

“The eyes of all look to You, Lord…” (Communion Antiphon, June 25, 2023) Yes, our eyes are forever looking toward God. We look toward God in times of trouble and pain and indecision. We look toward Him in times of success and happiness and new life. We look for help and consolation. We look in gratitude and in praise.

Sometimes, while not really thinking clearly, we may neglect that “look”. We may think that we are the ones instrumental in the success. We are the ones that made the good things happen. We may even author God for the mistakes, the wrongs, the hurts. Our humanity gets in the way.

Today we can look to God from our depths in truth and in gratitude simply allowing God to do what God does.

June 25, 2023

Sundays are precious days. The feel and spirit of the day is different than the other six. Whether we notice or are aware of the extra graces filling the air, the Creator God is extra attentive to His creation. With tenderness God invites us all to walk gently on this earth, to listen to the hidden silent voices that surround us and to be grateful.

Today, cloudy or sunny, is a day for the Spirit! With a wisp and a glance, She hovers and showers surprise. We recognize them in the smile, the calm, the peace, the greeting, the phone call, the extra moments to breathe in the refreshing atmosphere.

Blessed Sunday! Happy Family Day!

June 24, 2023

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus continues to instruct His Apostles. He urges them to trust in God in all they do putting aside fear and allowing God’s protection and love to fill them up. Preparing we pray…

Lord hear our prayer!

• For faith and trust in God’s perpetual care and Presence in our lives, we pray…
• For the grace to love God above all else recognizing His Hand in all we do, we pray…
• For a desire to care for those in need as God cares for us, we pray…
• For courage to speak God’s word and live it, we pray…

Lord hear our prayer!

Glory be to God, to the Son and to the Spirit…

June 23, 2023

Father, Son and Spirit, all of creation sings Your praise. All depend on all else. All depend on You. All look to You day by day for sustenance, for protection. In You we place our trust.

We admit that we humans are not always careful and loving with all You have placed in our care. Sometimes we may even complain about the movements of nature. We don’t always understand Your ways or what You ask of us.

Thank You for Your patience with us and for loving us. Today we begin again to fill our hearts with gratitude, to speak our truth to You and to be open to Your gentle teaching, In Your name we pray. Amen.

June 22, 2023

We are one day into the season of summer! It just slipped right in with the rain and the heat and the humidity – and the slower paced days (sort 0f) with different words filling the calendar. Some things are different; some things are the same. Some things are relaxed; some things are challenging. Some things are filled with newness in many shapes and sizes and forms. All is good! All is of God! And God is present!

June 21, 2023

Blessed the one who fears the Lord. (Psalm Response for Wednesday, June 21, 2023)

Blessed the one who loves God and keeps His commandments. Blessed the one who loves as God loves. This one will be blessed.

All good things will surround those who love God. Goid’s light will shine on them to illumine darkness, to bring joy out of sorrow, to lift up spirits.

Those who love God are mindful of the poor and those who suffer in any way. They share of God’s goodness for the welfare of others. they will be called God‘s beloved.

Blessed the one who fears the Lord.