With the Lord is kindness, and with God is redemption. -Psalm 130

I was struck when praying this morning reading’s about how Psalm 130 sings of God’s goodness while inviting us to trust deeply in God. I praise God on this day for those with whom I have reconnected in recent weeks. I have traveled each of these past three weeks (and eagerly embrace a couple weeks ahead at home!), and I was fortunate to re-unite with a cousin of mine, after 30 years, in the New Orleans area. Last week in Denver I had dinner with a best friend of mine whose friendship dates back nearly 25 years; I visited with his family just in time before they relocate soon to Bangladesh. And the other night I attended my niece’s band concert in Orlando and was awed at her prowess on the clarinet; the dinner that followed with her mom and my mother-in-law and her husband reminded me of how fortunate I am for their presence in my life. The love of family and friends is indeed God’s grace fully alive.

Today I also learned is “Women’s Day of Prayer.” I am pleased to share the below, sent to me by a former grad school professor. Let us give thanks for all the women in our lives. Blessings on your weekend ahead!

Prayer In Honor of Women’s Day of Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of peace:

Bless all women who daily strive to bring peace to their communities, their homes and their hearts. Give them strength to continue to turn swords into plowshares.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love:

We pray for all women who face prejudice, inequality and gender disparities. Help us see and to face the discrimination against women in all the many forms it may take.

Where there is injury, pardon:

Comfort all women who suffer from the pain of war, violence, and abuse. Help them to become instruments of their own reconciliation and peace.

Where there is division, unity:

Forgive all women and men who let differences breed hate and discrimination. Let your example of valuing all of creation help us to see that we are equal partners in the stewardship of your world.

Where there is darkness, light; where there is untruth, truth:

Comfort all women who struggle in the darkness of abuse, poverty, and loneliness. May we stand with them in light to acknowledge their suffering and strive to remove the burdens of shame or embarrassment.

Where there is doubt, true faith:

We pray for all women who live in fear of their husbands, fathers, and forces that control their lives. Help them to be empowered to be their true selves through your everlasting love and faith.

Where there is despair, hope:

We pray for all women who live in the despair of poverty, violence, trafficking, slavery,and abuse. May the light of your love bring them hope.

Where there is sadness, new joy:

Help us to see the strength and goodness in all women and men.
Transform our hearts to celebrate the love and grace of all people.
And may we be blessed with the courage of St. Clare of Assisi to follow our own path of love for you and all sisters and brothers.

-By Deborah Hirt, Intern at Franciscans International

O God of second chances, thankfully you give us this time during Lent to be filled, directed, and empowered by your Spirit. As we enter fully into Lent, show us what we need to see to more fully follow your Gospel. -Becky Eldrege

Today on this Ash Wednesday I am pleased to share the below reflection from Sr. Norma Pimentel, M.J., the executive director for Catholic Charities of Brownsville, TX, along the U.S./Mexico Border. Also embedded below is a classic Peter Gabriel tune that always makes me think of God’s presence. May these Lenten days of reflection ahead bring us God’s continued grace, appreciation, and compassion.

Lent—when we recall the passion of Christ—is a time for atonement and introspection to examine ourselves and all that surrounds us. As we begin this holy season, it may be a time for our own hearts to stop for a moment to take notice of how we are living our faith, to notice the needs of the families and others in our communities—and particularly of our children.

Children are precious gifts. Let’s treat them as such. Remember, they are being formed by the examples we model for them. They are counting on us to care for them and to guide them. They need our attention…

Ask yourself—what can I do? How is my faith present to others? Do I make time for others? Does it help bring peace and love to my family and others in my community? Does my faith bring out patience, understanding, care, and compassion? Am I a loving example that others can follow?

If our communities are going to heal, it must start with each one of us modeling for our children—and each other—the virtues of our faith.

For Reflection:

  • In the chaos of our world—particularly seen through the eyes of children and young people impacted by the world’s violence—where do you find God? 
  • How can you be more attentive to God’s presence in the chaos, to be present to and attend to the needs of those on the margins, and to the work of justice? 
  • In what ways, during this Lenten season, can you bring peace, love, patience, understanding, care, compassion, and justice to help heal the world around you? 

When you pay attention to the voice of providence in your life, you cannot but exclaim: ‘My God! It’s been you all the time.’…God is revealed as a trustworthy friend or loving parent, and life bursts out all over with grace. -Br. George Van Grieken, FSC

Every morning when I walk my dog we stop at our neighborhood church. I take a moment to think and offer up a daily prayer each morning at this site with significant meaning- it is where my wife and I were married. Although we no longer attend this same church, it serves not only as a neighborhood landmark but also as a reminder of the loving community of family and friends who support us to this day.

I also reflect often at this spot about the many different chapters of my life. This church itself at one point was a significant setting in my life, as have been a couple of other churches since then. I am reminded that life is a series of transitions, and throughout the changes I am blessed by growth, new opportunities, and refreshing perspectives.

In my extended family, and in one of the school communities I serve, I have loved ones and colleagues transitioning on into other stages in their lives. For some, these steps may mark the conclusion of their time on earth. I pray for the peace and comfort of all involved.

In the midst of the change that is constant in our lives, may we be grounded in the spirit of community that I believe God wills for each us. Blessings on your week ahead – I hope you can spend some time outdoors, as I have been fortunate to experience in recent days.

“No matter how much life and circumstances may batter and bruise us on this journey of life, the God of our childhood is also the God of our adulthood and is also the God of our old age. God is faithful on this developing journey, ever seducing us along the way to remember who we are and from where we come.” —Edwina Gateley

Keep going and keep speaking up, even if your voice shakes. — Allyson Felix

This week I’m sharing a few resources that have come across my way. Highlights thus far include a site visit and meeting yesterday at the school I used to serve, and my oldest son’s playoff run in CYO basketball. I am excited for him that he has this excitement during these concluding months of his final year in elementary school.

As the pace picks up at home and at work, I am grateful for the clear weather, for my collaborators and colleagues, and I give thanks for the health and well-being of my family and friends. Best wishes to you and yours!

From the Center for Action and Contemplation out of New Mexico:

No matter how much life and circumstances may batter and bruise us on this journey of life, the God of our childhood is also the God of our adulthood and is also the God of our old age. God is faithful on this developing journey, ever seducing us along the way to remember who we are and from where we come. —Edwina Gateley

I Shall Be Released (Bob Dylan Cover)| Clarence Bekker & Roberto Luti | Live Outside | Playing For Change

I firmly believe that love is a transforming power that can lift a whole community to new horizons of fair play, goodwill, and justice. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Yesterday I chaperoned my daughter’s first field trip since 2019. We visited the San Francisco Symphony for a children’s-based/teaching performance, followed by time at the playground near City Hall. We ended the afternoon with a read aloud and time spent browsing at the San Francisco Main Library. It was a joyful day, one filled with community, exercise, music and fun. We are so pleased with the decision to change schools for our youngest two children and it was a gift to witness hands-on learning in action.

On the drive home from school, my oldest son asked why Black History Month occurs during the shortest month of the year. This led to multiple open-ended questions from me, followed by a good conversation with all three of my kids. As they get older I enjoy the depth of the discussions we enjoy.

In honor of Black History Month, I am pleased to share a compilation from the group. “Kings Return.” I follow them on Twitter and find myself delighted whenever they release new content. Enjoy!

Lastly, I wanted to share this link: Pope Francis Lands in Congo, Where All His Priorities Converge. I found it an insightful overview of Pope Francis and the realities facing the Congo. I especially appreciated his quote, “Power is meaningful only if it becomes a form of service,” and remain awestruck by the Pope’s example of embracing the “poor and exploited,” as described in the article.

Blessings on your week ahead!

Let me keep my distance, always, from those who have the answers. Let me keep company always with those who say, “Look!” and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads. -Mary Oliver

This week I share a couple of resources from the new church our family has recently started attending. The above quote from Mary Oliver was included by the pastor in his letter in the bulletin. And this Stewardship Prayer depicted is one that we recite each liturgy. We have been rejuvenated as a family with this invigorating experience of community, prayer, and belonging.

Enjoy this song, “Open Mind,” by another of my favorite artists, Jack Johnson. Blessings on your week ahead!

Be tender with God as God is tender with us. – Shemaiah Gonzalez

In her article, “Choosing Joy,” author Shemaiah Gonzalez writes about Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ, and his care for those in the formerly incarcerated community, who he calls “homies.” His ministry, Homeboy Industries, is impressive and inspiring. Fr. Greg is a real wisdom figure for me, and I count touring him around my former school among the many highlights of my time at De Marillac Academy. Shermiah writes:

Fr. Greg explains this joy in his new book, Forgive Everyone Everything:

It is precisely because we so fundamentally doubt that we are worthy of love that we find it difficult to traverse the terrain of our vulnerability so that we can choose joy. This is the gentle soft spot that can reach across and connect finally with the other, to make the shift from protected heart to vulnerability. The homies discover tenderness as their weapon of choice. To be grounded in our “tenderoni” self is to know that we will endlessly struggle with our worthiness to be loved. Turns out, this is a necessary ingredient to being courageously tender with other people and is the door that opens to joy.

This ideal of viewing vulnerability, tenderness and joy as such strong assets in relationship-building is a great approach to life in general.

Enjoy this rendition of “Try a Little Tenderness” by another of my favorite artists, Otis Redding. Hang on for the strong finish, it is worth the extra time. Enjoy the week ahead!

You have to do the best with what God gave you. – Forrest Gump

Today I write to share just a couple video resources that have informed my reflection in recent weeks. I highly recommend investing the time to listen/watch the interview with U2’s Bono- I find his insights into faith and community to be compelling. Also this Sheryl Crow song was new to me, although it is a few years old by now. I hope you enjoy them both.

Otherwise a highlight for me of this past week was watching Forrest Gump the other night with my kids. I introduced the movie to them in the context of exploring civil rights as we prepare to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. next week. It was a great experience to field their questions and learn from their observations. I encourage you to watch it (again) if you have the time, I found it particularly relevant in light of the past several years.

Blessings on your week ahead!

Faith lifts the soul, hope supports it, experience says it must, and love says…let it be! -Elizabeth Ann Seton

(Photo courtesy of Seton Hall University)

In the Catholic tradition, today marks the feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, who in the United States is celebrated as one of the Founders of the Daughters of Charity. I have had the great fortune to be formed by, and to walk alongside, the Daughters here in California for over two decades. They have modeled courage, resilience and an unwavering heart for those on the margins. Elizabeth Ann’s own journey of perseverence, faith and commitment to children is as awe-inspiring. Pat Marrin’s reflection, “Know Thyself,” provides a thoughtful take on how Elizabeth Ann, as educator, illustrated how discipleship embodies how Jesus himself knew, loved and accompanied those who followed him. As people of faith or even simply as people of good will, this is our calling as well.

Weather patterns across our country in recent weeks have wreaked havoc on holiday travel. For those who are unhoused or who face housing insecurity, I pray that they safely find shelter during this time. In appreciation of the rain that our earth is welcoming to California, I share “Buckets of Rain,” by a favorite of my artists, Bob Dylan.

Stay dry and blessings on your week ahead!