Why do I believe?

How do I know that 

God loves me?

This prayer card has been in my possession for a very long time.  It is not a favorite prayer of mine nor a prayer I say often. 

Yet, it's a reminder of what we are called

to do,

to live,

to be.

Dear God,

When I really dislike someone, show me something positive about them.

When I want to hurt others with words or actions, help me watch what I say and do.

When I am negative, let me see one positive thing.

When I am desperate and going through a really difficult time, let me know that there will always be hope.

Let me think about others and their needs

because when I do

I am doing what you call me to do:

to become the person you want me to be.

I ask this in all the holy names of God,

Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi,

pray for us.

“In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.”

When we say that we say we believe in the Holy Trinity.

God calls us to be in community with so many people, similar and different from us.

Dear God,

I pray that you will show us all the many ways you can reveal yourself to us as

Father,

Son,

And Holy Spirit.

Grant us the grace to respond to your love in so many ways.

I ask this in all the holy names of God.

Amen.

"Yearning for a new way will not produce it. 

Only ending the old way can do that. 

You cannot hold on to the old all the while declaring that you want something new. 

The old will defy the new,

the old will deny the new,

the old will decry the new.

There is only one way to bring in the new:

You must make room for it.

-Neale Donald Walsh

*Read Matthew 13:51-53

Dear God,

Break apart the old so that we can make room for the new.

It will be uncomfortable,

inconvenient,

even painful

but we know with your guidance and love

we will be healed,

reconciled to you

and to others.

Help us put the old aside and make room for the new,

today.

I ask this in all the holy names of God ...

Amen.

Señor,

Todopoderoso

Enseñanos amar,

Crea en nosotros como escuchar y el deseo de perdonar.

Darnos la fuerza de hablar contra cualquier injusticia y como actuar especialmente en momentos dificiles como este.

Haznos humildes para servir al mas necesitado y usar nuestro poder para reconcialiar y construir la paz.

No nos deje caer en la tentación de violencia, odio y división.

Amen.

Dear God,

Don’t give up on us.

Make us humble.

Sow love into our hearts.

Show us how to forgive.

Teach us to heal.

Help us know self-restraint.

Give us the words to promote peace.

Use our actions to stand for justice.

Create in us a spirit of inclusion.

Let us see one another as you see us.

Hold us tight.

And let us not fall into the temptation of division, hatred and violence.

Love into us the love we so much need, now.

Amen.

Dear God,

I pray today so that the spirit of Pentecost, 50 days after Easter, that SAME Spirit that called the Apostles to spread the Gospel throughout the world, to all people, in many lands and in many languages, to fill us with the gift of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage, counsel, piety, awe and wonder.

Bless us with the gift of wisdom to know how to choose right over wrong.

Bless us with knowledge so we can learn about our faith, to use what we know to know you more and use it to share it with others.

Bless us with understanding so we can draw near and understand you and all that is different from us, so we can love and serve as Jesus did and help us know why faith is important.

Bless us with courage so we can have the power to stand for what is right and against any injustice.

Bless us with the gift of counsel so we may be guided in our faith.

Bless us with the gift of piety so may live the Good News willingly and pray for others and ourselves.

Bless us with the gift of wonder and awe and teach us to show respect to God, all people and the world.

I ask this through Christ Jesus.

Amen.