We continue on our Lenten Journey – Week 4
Our thought for today, Monday March 15, 2021 is by Christopher Barzak with an awesome prayer written by Fr. Edward Schmidt
“Nothing is more real than the masks we make to show each other who we are.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Mask
Holy God, you see me and You hear me.
Through my mask, You see if I smile or if I scowl.
Through my mask, You hear me if I whisper a brief prayer or mutter a muffled curse.
My friends don’t see or hear or know; nor do my family; nor my colleagues.
But You do.
This mask takes away power – the power of clear communication, but also the possibility to infect.
My smiles, my thoughts, my mumbles, though – these I know, but they are a greater mystery to others now.
But not to You, Lord. You see past my mask, You hear through it, You know.
But Your mask, Lord, what about Your mask?
Who can see through Your mask? Hear through it?
I cannot.
I cannot see if You smile or if You scowl.
I cannot hear if You whisper an answer to my prayer or brush off my curse.
I cannot sense if You are pleased with me or if You are waiting for me to do much better.
Someday soon, can we all take off our masks, Lord? Can we finally put them away?
When the disease that moves us to mask our faces for safety fades away, will our eyes and our ears be stronger, better able to see and to hear the smiles and the frowns, the cries and the whispers of those who fill our lives? Who make our lives worth living?
Will we see, Lord, that what we think of as Your mask is also our own, our inability to find You in the rush of our lives, our failure to see You in all the wonders you show us, our incapacity to hear Your gentle voice in the noise that surrounds us?
Help us, Lord, to move beyond our masks.
You are here for us to see and to hear.
Help us.
Let us stop hiding and show others, even from behind my mask, my true self!
We ask for this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady – Pray for us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Our thought for today, Tuesday March 16, 2021 is
“Stay close to people who feel like sunlight!!”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Joyous God,
You know in all of our lives, there are dark and gloomy and stormy days. That’s called the weather. There are also dark and gloomy and stormy emotions that we live and experience…that’s called having feelings and getting lost and or hurt sometimes. There are also people who are dark and gloomy and stormy…they are the ones that lead us to do things we don’t want to do. They are the people who are toxic and bring everyone around them down. They are people who are horribly negative or have addictive personalities, or who are always unhappy and miserable. Simply put – help us to stay away from those dark and gloomy and stormy people!
Help us find people who feel like sunlight. We’ve seen those people too! They radiate joy and laughter, faith and positivity. Even when they are having a bad day, it’s still not all dark and gloomy and stormy to them!
They tend to attract people because of their light NOT their darkness!
Help us to step into the light and look for positive people to be around.
Let me reflect their goodness until I can radiate my own sunshine!
We ask for this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Our Lady – Pray for us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Our thought for today, Wednesday March 17, 2021 is by Oprah Winfrey
“YOU ARE NOT HERE TO SHRINK DOWN TO LESS, BUT TO BLOSSOM INTO MORE OF WHO YOU REALLY ARE!”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Dear God,
Sometimes other people in our lives feel better if we just act low. What does that mean? Well, think of not wanting to answer the question because you don’t want to come across too smart. Playing dumb doesn’t threaten anyone else’s intelligence! Or maybe you play the quiet and passive boyfriend or girlfriend because every time you speak your mind or opinion, you get into trouble or get shut down. Maybe you don’t ever pick up that guitar or sing or play the piano, even though you’re really good at it! You don’t want people to make fun of your talents! Those are examples of shrinking down. On the opposite side, You God, call us to greatness! You want us to share our talents and gifts with others. You want us to speak up! You want us to use our brains! You want us to grow everyday into the amazing person You have created us to be.
Help us to see and know and understand that shrinking down doesn’t help anyone, especially ourselves!
We ask for this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS ST. PATRICK’S DAY – I OFFER YOU A SPECIAL IRISH BLESSING!
May God give you:
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
And or every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer!
Our Lady – Pray for us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Our thought for today, Thursday March 18, 2021 is by Clara Tellier
“Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to keep a promise!”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good morning God!
I know what it is like to have people let me down. I know what it’s like when people bail on me! Some people say one thing and do another! Jesus, you know what that was like too! Your friends said they would stand by you no matter what, they said they wouldn’t fall asleep, they said they would die with you…none of those things happened! I can’t control other people, so let me make sure that my word is good. Help me to always follow through on my promises. Let me be known as a person who can be counted on. Let me only say “Yes!” to a commitment when it is a “Yes!” in my heart! And when I feel like wavering and not fulfilling my promises…keep me strong and help me have the courage to keep my promises!
We ask for this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Our Lady – Pray for us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Today, Friday March 19, is the Feast Day of St. Joseph. Patron Saint of Workers, Patron Saint of Canada, Jesus’ earthly Father. Our thought for today is
“If we could only work for God the way Joseph did!”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our afflictions, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, our blessed Mother Mary, we confidently invoke your patronage also.
Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously, with your power and strength, to aid us in what we need.
O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; watch over and defend the unborn children. Keep every family member from influences and temptations that tear families apart.
St. Joseph, our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness and negative thinking.
As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live humbly, aspire to holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in Heaven.
Amen.
Our Lady – Pray for us!
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.