September 30, 2023

The Gospel for tomorrow is about saying one thing and doing another. It’s about conversion and about seeing the heart of another. Preparing we pray…

Lord hear our prayer!

• For an open mind and heart to allow God’s word to touch our heart and the courage to make the necessary changes, we pray…
• For insight to recognize the strength in conversion, we pray…
• For those making life changing decisions, for discernment and fortitude, we pray…
• For a deepening of cooperation with the ways of God, we pray…

Lord hear our prayer!

Jesus, I believe in You. I trust You. I love You. Amen.

September 29, 2023

Today we remember the Archangels – Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. We know their names from Scripture as messengers of God’s plan. And perhaps upon occasion we pray through their intercession for protection. Michael was the warrior, Raphael, one who accompanied and Gabriel an announcer. Each had a specific task assigned by God to accomplish God’s work.

In our lives we too have those special people who accompany us. Some listen to us. Others share God’s Word. Still others remind us of gifts and blessings and help us to use them in a way that allows them to increase and expand. We don’t call these special people “angels” but we can probably agree that they are a sign of God’s abundant love for us.

Remember these special people in your prayer today. God’s plamn continues through them.

September 28, 2023

We are Your people, Lord, Your handiwork, Your gift, Your blessing. We are Your creation, made in Your image. How is it then, that we so easily forget our ultimate heritage? Our Maker? Our purpose? Our destiny? How do we forget the gift, the blessing?

So it is that we, Your people, Lord, are drawn to what is not within. Forgetting the power and great kindness of the Creator we allow the loudness and lure of self-gratification to cover the blessing, to hide the gift. We forget the Giver, the Presence and go astray. We become who we are not meant to be – even for a short time.

But You, forgiving and merciful God gently draw us back. You remind us. You nurture us again. You kindle the gift and blessing and we are born anew.

All praise and honor be to You Creator God. Amen.

September 27, 2023

Blessed be God, who lives for ever. (Psalm Response for Wednesday, September 27, 2023)

God looks into the depths of our heart and has mercy on us. He lifts up. He heals. He gathers all into His loving arms.

Praise Him everyone! Though we may stray God welcomes us back. God shows us His greatness and power, His amazing love

What can we do in return to such kindness? Together we praise and thank Him, In the morning and in the night. In the happy moments and those in which we struggle. All our days are filled with blessing and Presence.

We celebrate God’s Omnipresence, God’s unconditional love. To God be glory and honor and praise.

Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

September 26, 2023

From the Weekly Update of Queen of Peace Catholic Academy, September 28, 2007:

“Our Friends of QPA Breakfast was extraordinary! Filled with singing and spirit, great food and camaraderie, Walsh Hall reverberated with the sounds of Prekindergarten to Grade Eight students interacting with adults who have helped shape their young lives. Love, respect, structure and discipline all came together presenting an atmosphere of pride and happiness. There was a delightful give and take enveloped in reverence for the person. It made for a very proud principal and faculty.

This brought to mind how easily we take our daily situations and routine for granted. Seeing the same people each day, following the same schedule, expressing the same expectations can turn into humdrum. Reality can easily slip away as the extra special slips into the ordinary. Certainly the faith community of Queen of Peace is far from the “run of the mill”. This makes one wonder if there are other aspects of life as well that are not the usual, perhaps a sunset or a smile or a beautiful song or an interesting book or a hug or a kind word. Maybe, during the day, as we attempt to recall the presence of our God, we can, too, recall the extraordinary. Recalling and recognizing automatically leads to a prayer of praise and thanks. So, then, we are doubly blessed!

Let’s challenge one another this week to name the extra special in our lives. Let’s even write them down one by one. And, of course, let’s offer gratitude to our loving God for showing us the great love God has for us – every single moment of every single day.“

September 25, 2023

“…I will hear them, and I will be their Lord forever.” (From Entrance Antiphon, Sunday, September 24, 2023)

There’s nothing we ask of God that God is not our God. There’s nothing we experience, good or challenging that God is not present. There is nothing we see or observe in this world that God is not in it. God is for ever and ever present, all mighty and forgiving and merciful.

In our day to day encounters, it is hard to remember God’s Presence surrounding us and lifting us up. But our faith tells us this is so. And when we have quiet moments to reflect our heart tells us as well. Be blessed in God his day!

September 24, 2023

In the life of a child, there are few things that are seen as “fair”. The young mind is very self-centered and seeing things in the eyes of the whole is hard to come by. It takes many years for this to form and many more to believe and trust in it. Still longer for God’s way of fair and just to settle in the depths of the heart.

God’s ways are truly not our own. It is God who slowly shows us His way through Scripture, the words of many holy people along with our own determination and great desire to be true disciple of Jesus. In and with God, our heart and soul matures and we come to know His way.

Where do you find yourself in the journey to know God’s ways?

Blessed Sunday! Happy Family Day!

September 23, 2023

The Gospel for tomorrow questions justice God style vs. justice our style. It points to God’s immense generosity. Prepareingh we pray…

Lord hear our prayer!

• For a heart willing to be changed in the way of God and to act on it, we pray…
• For a sense of forgiveness of one’s own faults and a desire to forgive others, we pray…
• For an awareness of thee times we judge others on our own terms and neglect God’s ways, we pray…
• For incrasing gratitude to God for God’s unconditional love for all, we pray…

Lord hear our prayer!

Lord, help me to remember Your command to love others as You love us. Amen.

September 22, 2023

God, our Creator and Giver of all good gifts, our hearts are longing for the gift of your peace. We know that Your Son Jesus promised this gift to all who follow Him, to all who believe in Him. We know that to follow Him is to live the Beatitudes. It is to love You with our whole heart and others as You love.

Forgiving and merciful God, You know the depths of our heart. You know our efforts and missteps. You know our longings and our desires. You love us in spite of our actions. You still offer us the gift of peace.

Loving and gentle God, shower Your peace on us this day. Give peace within our entire being. Give peace to those we love. Give peace to our world. Give peace to the troubled, the lonely, the frustrated, the angry. Give peace to all at this time and in all times.

Praised be to You, Father, Creator, forgiving, merciful, loving and gentle God. Amen.

September 21, 2023

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew. In his Gospel he quotes Jesus as saying, “Go into the whole world and make disciples….” (Matt. 28:19) What a formidable task Jesus put to His Apostles with the challenge to go to the whole world, and to make disciples. Both tasks appear impossible and when we look at our world, it is difficult to label this request with MIssion Accomplished!

That must mean that we, as modern day disciples, have work to do! In our own part of the world, we are being called to follow the ways of Jesus. We are called to encourage, enlighten, energize those in our midst. Our simple daily tasks can be signs of God’s Word; our prayers can lift the spirits of another and bring peace to ourselves.

Today, go…and make…