It's all about ambition . .

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A Prayer for Guidance . . .

 

Trust That Guidance Will Come

Trust and act on the guidance you have now.  Some parts of our lives appear like a long, paved highway.  We can see exactly where to go; we have a panoramic view.

Other times, it may feel like we’re driving in the dark with only one headlight - on a winding road through the fog.  We can only see a few feet in front of the car.

Don’t worry if you can’t see that far ahead, if you only have a glimmer of light to guide your path.  Slow down.  Listen to your heart.  Guidance will come.

Trust what you hear.  Do the small thing.  Take that one step.  Go as far as you can see.  Then go back to your heart, and you’ll hear the next step.  It may be a step of immediate action, or deliberate inaction.

Sometimes you may have to quiet down, wait, and prepare yourself to hear what you’re to do next.  Trust and act on the guidance you have  now, and more will come.

(Melodie Beattie ~Journey to the Heart)

Blessing for Waiting

 

Who wait for the night to end.

bless them.

 

Who wait for the night to begin

bless them.

 

Who wait in the hospital room

who wait in the cell

who wait in prayer

bless them.

 

Who wait for news

who wait for the phone call

who wait for a word

who wait for a job - a house - a child

bless them.

 

Who wait for one who will come home...

who wait for one who

will not come home

bless them.

 

Who wait with fear

who wait with joy

who wait with peace

who wait with rage

who wait for the end

who wait for the beginning

who wait alone

who wait together

bless them.

 

Who wait without knowing

what they wait for or why

bless them.

 

Who wait when they

should not wait

who wait when they should

be in motion

who wait when they need to rise

who wait when they need to set out

bless them.

 

Who wait for the end of waiting

who wait for the fullness of time

who wait emptied and

open and ready

who wait for you,

O bless.

 

Jan Richardson

Circle of Grace http://www.janrichardson.com/index.htmlichardson.com 
janrichardson.com

A Lenten Prayer for Peace of Heart . . .

 

A LENTEN PRAYER

God of peace,
you do not want us to know relentless worry
but rather a humble repentance of heart.
It is like a surge of trusting that enables us

to place our faults in you.
And then, by the inner light of forgiveness,
little by little we discover a peace of heart.

 

Christ of compassion,
through your Gospel we discover
that measuring what we are or what we are not leads nowhere.
What matters is the humble trusting of faith.
By it we are led to glimpse the innocence of God
And to understand that “all God can do is give love.”

 

Holy Spirit,
even when we can feel nothing of your presence,

you are always there.
You remain continually active in us,
opening little ways forward to escape from our dead ends
And to move towards the essential of faith, of trust.

May we ever keep safe in all its fullness
the gift your love once gave
and your mercy now restores.

Amen

— Taizé, adapted

 

A Franciscan Prayer for Peace

 

      Lord, make us instruments of your Peace.  In a world all too prone to violence and revenge, we commit ourselves to the Gospel values of mercy, justice, compassion, and love.

 

We will seek daily to promote forgiveness and healing in our hearts, our families, and our world. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; Where there is injury, let us cultivate peace.

 

Fear and distance prevent people from recognizing all as brothers and sisters; tensions lead to violence and mistrust; We will strive to honor the dignity that God places in each and every human person.

 

Grant that we may not seek to be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. Our failure to understand the other can create exclusion in all its negative forms – racism, marginalization of those who are poor, sick, the immigrant; it can also create situations of domination, occupation, oppression and war.

 

We pledge to seek the way of solidarity, to create hearts, homes, and communities where all people will experience inclusion, hospitality, and understanding.

For it is in giving that we receive, in pardoning that we are pardoned and in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

 

Let us Pray:

Lord God, create in us:

-the Capacity to hear and understand the voices of those who suffer from every form of violence, injustice, and dehumanization;

 

-the Openness to receive and honor people from other cultures, languages, religious traditions, and geographical regions;

 

-the Creativity to explore new ways of communication and dialogue through

music, poetry, performing arts, and the mass media;

 

-the Audacity to undertake the building of communities of forgiveness, healing,

and reconciliation.

To God who is above all and in all are the glory and the honor. Amen

A Wisdom Prayer . . .

 

Spirit of the living God

Bless us with wisdom and insight.

Confirm in us simplicity and humility

As we recognize our place

In the community of beings.

Flood us with perseverance to continue

The pursuit of justice and peace

In whom we are and in all we do.

Draw us into your deep well of love

To courageously embrace new ways

Of living your compassion

With one another, all our sisters and brothers,

And all creation.

Transform us in the living waters of your justice,

So that in countering the hate,

Violence and brokenness of our world,

Each of us is an agent of peace and hope.

 Amen.

 Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace 

 

Reflection: The Second Sunday in Lent 2026

 

        Touch that Fear Away:

The Second Sunday in Lent 2026 

March 1, 2026

www.johnpredmoresj.com | predmore.blogspot.com

Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

 

We hear the Transfiguration account early in Lent even though it was one of the final episodes in the life of Jesus before he turned his attention to Jerusalem. The disciples had been progressively learning about his mission and they were brought into the inner circle of revelation on that mountain. For years, the disciples recognized Jesus as an interpreter and amender of God’s law and he spoke prophetic words in difficult situations. On this mountain, Jesus appears before Moses, the lawgiver, and Eliah, the great prophet, and God’s glory shines on the three of them. Then Moses and Elijah disappear, leaving only Jesus, who is elevated to be higher than the other two. Without any doubt, Peter, James, and John would rightly have been scared to death.  

 

The disciples fall in fear, and here is an amazing detail, “Jesus touches them.” It shows us that the glorified Christ is not distant or otherworldly. He remains involved. He remains interested in their lives. He remains connected to their humanity. He never ceases to be a human with great emotions and feelings. He calls them to something greater. He says, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” His consoling touch reassures them that they matter to him and he wants them to walk with him as be endures his Passion. 

 

The touch is also combined with the words of God, the Creator, who says, “This is my special one. Listen to him.” It tells us that we are to hear his words and then comply with his invitations and requests. We often do not like the words “to obey,” so maybe we can update them to observe, conform, abide by, defer to, or follow. Notice that Jesus never tells us to worship him. We do not feel simply inspired by him or to admire him. We conform our lives to his own. He never says, “Adore me.” He asks us to listen to his words and rightly act upon them. That is obedience. 

 

So what are the words we are to hear from him today? Do not be afraid. He knows that fear is not faith. Fear keeps us bound to ourselves and wrapped up in our own interpretations of suffering. Fear keeps us looking at our uncertainty or lack of control or power. Fear shrinks when trust grows. The disciples have to walk back down that mountain where they will enter further misunderstanding and suffering and they will eventually have to face the cross. They glimpsed the glory of Jesus, which will help them confront the brutality of the cross. They were asked to rise and go forward. 

We are to follow the example of the disciples as we rise in the face of fear and go onward. We can realize that we are not alone in our trials and tribulations. In the age of the Resurrection, the glorified Christ remains close and wants to touch our pain and suffering and to share our joys and laughter. The glory of Christ is there for our benefit and encouragement. It is the hope to go on for another day knowing that the voice from heaven, the touch of Jesus is one of loving concern. Likewise, we may not be able to see what others see about us. We may not see that our lives testify to the Transfigured one. We may not see that our lives are ones of fidelity when we accept the invitations of God. We may not be able to see what others see – that we are radiant - shining like the sun.