Peony ~ Mary's Rose
Monday is the new feast of Mary,/ Mother of the Church./ She is the one who first says yes to Jesus and who perseveres in praise, faith and service./ May we imitate her in the life of the Church./ We pray to the Lord.
In the Eastern Christian church the Pentecost color is not red, but green./ The church is covered with green branches and grasses brought in to cover everything,/ even the floor./ May we green and grow in the Easter Mystery we have been celebrating for seven weeks/ built up in faith,/ hope and love./ We pray to the Lord.
A few days after the Uvalde massacre of 19 fourth graders and two teachers,/ there were an additional 9 domestic terror attacks in the nation./ Now only the biggest ones make headlines/ in this nation where there are more guns than people./ Is the problem the gun lobby?/ Is the problem a political, one?/ Is the problem big money?/ Or is that many people/ including those in leadership simply do not care?/ Teach us,/ heal us./ We pray to the Lord.
In August, / Pope Francis will create 21 new cardinals./ They come/ not from the high profile nations and cities/ but places far flung./ One cardinal from India is a Dalit/ once referred to scurrilously as untouchable./ May we learn what it means to be a truly open-armed,/ open hearted church,/ where people feel at home ~ named,/ known and valued./ We pray to the Lord.
At the start of June we pray for those who will celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance./ We pray for graduates,/ the safety of summer travelers and those in harms way during storms./ May the earth be blessed with the gift of rain where it is needed./ May we see appreciate water as a great gift not to be wasted./ We pray to the Lord.
Monday marks the 100th day of the invasion of Ukraine./ Pope Francis has said, the logic behind the invasion is diabolical./ Rape,/ theft,/ civilian murder,/ lies,/ vast and wonton destruction are the evils used to demoralize an entire population./ Once again,/ Ukraine is the Land of Blood./ We pray boldly for God to rise up./ We pray to the Lord.
