Prayer for 2020 and 2021
Let us give thanks to our Good God for all the blessings of this past year, 2020.
Wait a second. Blessings? for 2020? The year that will go down in history as the year of the raging COVID-19 pandemic? The year that saw over 80 million cases of the coronavirus worldwide–and over 1.76 million deaths–and still counting? And in the U.S. over 20 million cases and 333,000 deaths? 2020–the year of massive unemployment, potential wholesale evictions, basic food shortages? Blessings–for that year?
Yes, let us thank God for the blessings of 2020. To each blessing, please respond: We thank you, God.
+ for all those individuals who made life-long-loving commitments to one another this year—or who deepened the loving commitments they had already made… We thank you God.
+ for all the new babies born in 2020… We thank you, God.
+ for all hard-sought, worthwhile goals that were achieved, for discoveries that were made–especially those discoveries (like the COVID vaccine) that will benefit millions of people in need… We thank you God.
+ for families and friends who grew in their appreciation of each other… We thank you, God.
+ for all those individuals who looked out for family members, who checked on their neighbors, who helped total strangers… We thank you, God.
+ for those doctors, nurses, aids, EMT personnel, researchers who worked on the front lines of the pandemic with courage, expertise, and total devotion… We thank you, God.
+ for all those who, because of their work, helped to keep vital lifelines open: farmers, sanitation workers, truck drivers, aviation personnel, food distributors, postal workers, police forces, military personnel, teachers… and the list goes on… We thank you, God.
+ for those who, because of Covid-19, have grown in self-knowledge, patience, self-sacrifice, courage, and thoughtfulness of others… We thank you, God.
+ for the preservation of our U.S. democracy throughout an extremely challenging campaign and national election… and for all elected and appointed officials who worked with courage and commitment to promote the common good… We thank you God.
+ for those who grew in prayer, who now speak with God with greater honesty, earnestness, frequency, and hope… and who listen to God with greater attentiveness, openness, and trust… We thank you, God.
+ for the greater awareness and appreciation we have for our connectedness to our one global community, and for all the steps taken this past year to care for the health of the beautiful planet we all call home… We thank you God.
+ for the renewed appreciation of our need for human companionship, for in-person conversations, for touch… We thank you, God.
+ for those who, despite the very real pain and hardships of 2020, were still able to smile (albeit behind their masks)… and for those who made us laugh, thus applying humor’s balm to our painful wounds… We thank you, God.
+ for individuals who were honest, who lived a basically moral life, who took new steps to align their priorities more closely with the Gospel… We thank you, God.
+ for all those who died during this past year—especially those who succumbed to COVID-19… We remind ourselves that our intense grieving of them only underscores the deep love and affection we have for them… We thank you, God.
+ for all the other blessings of 2020… many of which we are not yet aware… We thank you, God.
Prayer for 2021:
Loving Creator, we ask for your blessings on 2021. For we firmly believe that you have been with us in the Past, you are with us in the Present, and you will be with us in the Future. We face the future with wonder and excitement for the refreshing waters and green pastures that might lie ahead for us. At the same time we also face the future with fear and misgivings for the rough roads and dark valleys that we could encounter along the way. So we entrust 2021 into your loving hands, following the wise words of the writer Corrie ten Boom who said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” So, Beloved Known One, help us to step into the future, into the year 2021 with faith, love, and hope. Amen.
Did any of the words above touch your heart today? If so, you might want to sit with those words for a few moments.
Would you add anything to the prayer of Thanksgiving? Or to the prayer for 2021?
To all of you, I wish a very Happy and Blessed New Year!
PS: I ask your prayers for a morning retreat I will lead for the Faculty at Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles on Monday, January 4. Our theme is “Education, Transformation, and Hope.” Please continue to pray for teachers everywhere who, despite the pandemic, are striving to educate our future generation with great love and devotion. Thank you!
Our song today is “The Prayer” written by David Foster with lyrics by Carole Bayer-Sager. This lovely song is from the animated film Quest for Camelot. It won the Golden Globe for best song in 1999. Famous versions include the solos by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli and the duets by Dion/Bocelli and Dion/Josh Groban. But the version I chose today is by the Father-Daughter team of Mat and Savanna Shaw of Kaysville, Utah. Savanna, 15, is the oldest of four. She and her dad posted this song in March 2020. The lyrics are not printed out, but some of my favorite lines are these: I pray you’ll be our eyes and watch us where we go… and help us to be wise in times when we don’t know… when we lose our way, guide us with your grace where we’ll be safe…I pray we’ll find your light and hold it in our heart when stars go out each night, remind us where you are… A world where pain and sorrow will be ended… and every heart that’s broken will be mended… and we’ll remember we are all God’s children reaching out to touch you… reaching to the sky… We ask that life be kind, watch us from above… We hope each soul will find another soul to love… Guide us with your grace, give us faith so we’ll be safe. As we celebrate a new year, let us remember that the place where we will always be safe is in God’s loving arms…
Thank you so much for reading my blog! I really appreciate each one of you!
I Was a Princess…A Christmas Reflection
Introduction: Christmas puts me in a pensive mood. As we continue to live during the dark days of this pandemic, I took some time to ponder some of the unearned blessings, the taken-for-granted gifts I received in my early life. I concluded that in many ways, I was a princess—although I didn’t know it. In hard times, it’s good to recall God’s past blessings. They give us courage to trust God’s love in the present and in the future. I think this reflection is appropriate for Christmas as we celebrate the birth of a little child, the Prince of Peace:
I was a princess… and I didn’t know it.
I was born into wealth beyond measure… beyond merit… and I didn’t know it.
I entered this world already loved by two parents even before I made my entrance. They had loved me as soon as they realized I was on the way. Theirs was a love unconditional and lavish… and I hadn’t done a single thing to earn such love. On the contrary, as soon as I entered this world, I did some things unworthy of affection: I cried… I pooped… I fussed… and I demanded 24-hour attention and care.
I was born into a world of instant playmates: two brothers and a sister who would accompany me as I began to explore my new world of mystery, magic, and fun. And when I encountered frightening things (like thunder and lightning… a snake… a strange noise in the dark), I always had someone to run to.
I was a princess… and I didn’t know it.
My kingdom was an expanse of fields and woods, lawns and an orchard, creeks and a pond, and even an old brown barn with a hayloft for romping in. And I had wonderful animal companions too: several dogs… an endless series of cats and kittens… lots of chickens and ducks… and hundreds of white Emden geese who’s soft, steady murmurings would rupture into loud squawking at feeding time or when an owl, hawk, or even an eagle (once) flew over them real low searching for its dinner.
I didn’t live in a palace, but I did live in a big old yellow farm house… I was fed freshly picked beans, corn, and Swiss chard from our royal garden… I was free to pick an apple or a pear from the trees out back anytime I wanted to… And our realm had strawberries, blackberries, and elderberries. It was a world bedecked with flowers of all kinds: purple lilacs by the front porch… white petunias and red salvia in front of the house… and pink and white roses in the side yard.
From the beginning, I was given a regal education. My parents and siblings taught me the duties of saying please… thank you… I’m sorry… I forgive you. I was given royal chores to do, and in time I learned that the sooner I got my chores done, the sooner I got to play. My parents handed down to me the gift of their faith. I was taught to talk to God every night (and even sometimes during the day) and to go to Church every Sunday (even when I didn’t feel like it).
The kingdom I was born into was not a perfect kingdom. And I soon learned that the imperfections (my own, those of others, and those embedded in certain circumstances) were opportunities to grow in patience, trust, and love. They also provided opportunities for me to do my noble duty of helping to make the kingdom a better place for all. For, from my earliest days, I had been let in on the Secret of Life: my royal lineage. I am a child of God… Amazing! And so is everyone else… Even more amazing!
I was a princess… and I didn’t know it. But now, many, many years later, I am still a princess… only now I know it.
For reflection:
What “unearned blessings” did you receive in your early life?
What “wealth beyond measure… beyond merit” are you receiving today as an adult?
What were (are) some of the “imperfections” you have had to face in your life? Have they helped you to grow in patience, trust, and love? What small part are you doing to make this “earthly kingdom” a better place for all?
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I wish you love, peace and joy as we celebrate the birth of Jesus into our world! I am holding you and your loved ones in special prayer…
PS: As many of you know, my sister, Mary Ann, passed away four years ago shortly before Christmas. This Christmas her daughter, Lori, received a very special Christmas gift from her good friend Kim. (They’ve known each other since 7th grade!) The gift was a black apron with a gingerbread recipe on it. What makes this gift so special is this: it’s my sister’s recipe written in her own hand! How precious is that?! As soon as Lori saw the familiar handwriting, she cried… When I saw a picture of the apron, I had tears too. A few days ago, Lori wore the apron to make gingerbread cookies. She told me they turned out perfect. Here’s a picture of her unique and precious apron:
(When I’m editing this reflection, the photo above is perfectly clear. But when I save it, it sometimes becomes a little blurred. I have no idea why. But I’m hoping most of you get the clear image of my sister’s recipe. Her handwriting is so beautiful!)
I have two videos for you. The first is a 4-year-old girl, Sophia A. Siban, a little princess, singing “Because He Lives,” a song that reminds us of the rest of the Christmas story—namely, the Easter story! At Christmas we celebrate not only Jesus’ birth, but the fact that Jesus continues to live—in us and in our world. How much we need this message during this pandemic. The second video is one of my favorite renditions of “Joy to the World” by Mannheim Steamroller.
Sophia Siban: As I listened and watched her sing this song, I recalled those words from Isaiah 11:6: “And a little child shall lead them.”
“Joy to the World” by Mannheim Steamroller:
Thank you so much for reading my blog! You are a gift to me!
Is It Too Late?
For me, one of the saddest phrases in the English language is this: It’s too late. The words exude powerlessness, hopelessness, and perhaps even serious regret. For the truth is, sometimes it is too late.
For example, if you forget to take your banana bread out of the oven and you don’t remember until it has become a loaf of charcoal (as I have done!), then it is too late to do anything about it except 1) toss it in the garbage, 2) start over, and 3) learn a valuable lesson about mindfulness.
Or if you don’t make time to play with your kids or grandkids when they’re still little, it’s too late to start playing with them when they’re packing the car to go off to college or walking down the aisle to get married. Or if we listen to our scientists and don’t take steps now to curb global warming, it will be too late. And then what?
What makes these words, “it’s too late” so sad is this: they imply that we had a chance to influence or change the future for the better and we didn’t do it. And now we are powerless to do anything about it—except to regret, apologize, or make a resolution for the future.
But when it comes to the spiritual realm, more specifically forgiveness, things are different. In his parables, Jesus implies it is never too late to receive God’s forgiveness. If we are to forgive others 7 X 70 times (meaning an infinite number of times), that means I can flub things 7 X 70 times and still be forgiven by God. Does that seem too good to be true?
In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger son messed things up in a bad way. He wanted his inheritance. He couldn’t wait for his Dad to “kick the bucket.” He demanded “his” money NOW! Then he runs off and squanders the whole kitten kaboodle trying to buy friendship and love with his vast stash of coins—until his money bag is empty and all his “friends” have deserted him.
The story could have ended there. He could have said, “It’s too late” and curled up in a ball, waiting for death to come with only pigs for company. But something inside must have nudged him to think, “Maybe it’s not too late.” He returns home intending to acknowledge his grave sinfulness in carefully rehearsed words—hoping only for a menial job on the farm. But before he can make his speech, he is smothered in his Dad’s embrace and given a party—in his honor! Imagine that! In his honor! Oh, the irony of those words!
So, what can we do with all of this? First, if something really is too late in our life (for example, I will never be the Olympic ice-skater I wanted to be at age 12), then don’t pine. Let go and move on.
Or, if something is too late, then at least extropulate some lesson from the experience that can influence your current and future choices. Or, maybe an apology is in order, to let someone know you regret something in the past that you did or did not do.
If the “something” involves forgiveness, then remember the parable of the Prodigal Son. As some theologians maintain, the essence of all of Jesus’ teachings can be found in this parable. Commit the plot to memory. Remember, when extending forgiveness, it is never too late—even if the person we are forgiving is already dead. And when seeking God’s forgiveness, it is also never too late. In that fact lies our salvation! Amen! Alleluia!
Did anything in this reflection speak to you today?
Have you ever had an “it’s too late” experience? How did you respond to it?
What makes forgiving someone so difficult? What helps you to forgive someone?
Does anything in the parable of the Prodigal Son stand out for you? If so, what and why?
PS: A BIG thank you to the 40 women who participated in the Advent retreat on Saturday, sponsored by the St. Francis Renewal Center in Bethlehem, PA. We had a beautiful group of individuals from 10 states: PA, NY, WY, CA, MO, OR, VA, NJ, IL, and OH. And special thanks to Sister Marguerite for inviting me back to facilitate this retreat, and to Maryann my tech adviser and DJ! And thank you to my Sunflower Community for your prayerful support!
I chose Jesuit Dan Schutte’s song “Be Not Afraid” for today. This group of Catholic artists got together in May 2020, in the early days of the pandemic to sing together and remind us of God’s presence and God’s promises: Be not afraid, I go before you always. Come, follow me and I will give you rest… though you cross the barren desert… though you do not know the way… know that I am with you through it all. May these beautiful words give all of us comfort and strength during these difficult days.
I invite you to respond below to anything in this reflection, the pictures, the video, or other responses.
"Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life"
There’s a large book on my shelf (608 pages) that I’ve had for a number of years (the copyright is 2006). It’s entitled Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life. The authors are Frederick and Mary Ann Brussat, a couple in New York who have devoted their lives to discovering resources to aid people along their “spiritual journeys.”
The book is a collection 650 “readings” about daily life from a wide range of contemporary authors—spiritual writers, filmmakers, poets, naturalists, novelists, essayists, social activists. Names include Wendell Berry, Annie Dillard, Robert Fulghum, Eduardo Galeano, Barbara Kingsolver, Henri Nouwen, Helen Prejean, John Dear, Toni Morrison, Gunilla Norris, Wendy Wright, Megan McKenna, Samuel H. Miller, and many, many more.
The book is divided into categories: things, places, nature, animals, leisure, relationships, body, illness, death, and others. The book also includes practices from a wide range of traditions that can help us to catch glimpses of the Divine in ordinary life. I am about to donate this tome to our library here on this Notre Dame campus. But before I do, I copied out a few excerpts to share with you today.
- “Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what life is like inside someone else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.” Frederick Buechner
2. “In time of such destruction, our lives depend on this listening. It may be that the earth speaks its symptoms to us. With the nuclear reactor accident in Chernobyl, Russia, it was not the authorities who told us that the accident had taken place. It was the wind. The wind told the story. It carried a tale of splitting, of atomic fission, to other countries and revealed the truth of the situation. The wind is a prophet, a scientist, a talker.” Linda Hogan
3. “The words ‘genius’ and ‘generous’ come from the Latin root ‘genere’ meaning ‘to beget.’ To have a genius for life is to possess the ability to generate warmth and well-being in others.” Wendy Lustbader
4. “The universe is made of stories—not atoms.” Muriel Ruykeyser
5. “A teacher asked a class, ‘What is the color of apples?’ Most of the children answered red. A few said green. Kevin raised his hand and said white. The teacher tried to explain that apples could be red, green, or sometimes golden, but never white. Kevin was quite insistent and finally said, ‘Look inside.’ Perception without mindfulness keeps us on the surface of things, and we often miss other levels of reality.” Joseph Goldstein
6. “Nothing is obvious. Everything conceals something else… Spiritual awareness is born of encounters with the mystery.” Rabbi Lawrence Kushner
7. “We all need a certain amount of fallow time… Watching the grass grow, sitting on the hillside, staring out the window daydreaming. When we don’t have it, there is a deeper intelligence that won’t come forth.” Sue Bender
8. “We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.” Thich Nhat Hanh
9. “There is an art to wandering. If I have a destination, a plan—an objective—I’ve lost the ability to find serendipity. I’ve become too focused, too single-minded. I am on a quest, not a ramble. I search for the Holy Grail of particularity and miss the chalice freely offered, filled full, and overflowing. Cathy Johnson
10. “A boy and his father were walking along a road when they came to a large stone. The boy said to his father, ‘Do you think if I use all my strength, I can move this rock?’ His father answered, ‘If you use all your strength, I am sure you can do it.” The boy began to push the rock. Exerting himself as much as he could, he pushed and pushed. The rock did not move. Discouraged, he said to his father, ‘You were wrong. I can’t do it.’ His father placed his arm around the boy’s shoulder and said, “No, son. You didn’t use all your strength—you didn’t ask me to help.'”David Wolpe
Did any of these excerpts speak to you today? Do you know why?
Do you cultivate any “practices” that help you to “read the sacred in everyday life”?
PS: I ask your prayers for an Advent retreat day I will be facilitating this Saturday, Dec. 12. It is sponsored by the St. Francis Center for Renewal in (appropriately!) BETHLEHEM, PA. Thank you very much!
For today’s video, I chose the beautiful Advent litany, “Litany of the Word” by Bernadette Farrell. The refrain is “Alleluia” and “Maranatha” meaning “our Lord comes.” I couldn’t find a version with the lyrics, but if you google “Catholic Hymn Blogspot Advent Litany” you will find the words and the same video that is below:
I welcome your responses below. But (as you know) I am still having technical problems. For some reason, my blog isn’t accepting responses. I’m very sorry about that because I value your responses so much!
“Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life”
There’s a large book on my shelf (608 pages) that I’ve had for a number of years (the copyright is 2006). It’s entitled Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life. The authors are Frederick and Mary Ann Brussat, a couple in New York who have devoted their lives to discovering resources to aid people along their “spiritual journeys.”
The book is a collection 650 “readings” about daily life from a wide range of contemporary authors—spiritual writers, filmmakers, poets, naturalists, novelists, essayists, social activists. Names include Wendell Berry, Annie Dillard, Robert Fulghum, Eduardo Galeano, Barbara Kingsolver, Henri Nouwen, Helen Prejean, John Dear, Toni Morrison, Gunilla Norris, Wendy Wright, Megan McKenna, Samuel H. Miller, and many, many more.
The book is divided into categories: things, places, nature, animals, leisure, relationships, body, illness, death, and others. The book also includes practices from a wide range of traditions that can help us to catch glimpses of the Divine in ordinary life. I am about to donate this tome to our library here on this Notre Dame campus. But before I do, I copied out a few excerpts to share with you today.
- “Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what life is like inside someone else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.” Frederick Buechner
2. “In time of such destruction, our lives depend on this listening. It may be that the earth speaks its symptoms to us. With the nuclear reactor accident in Chernobyl, Russia, it was not the authorities who told us that the accident had taken place. It was the wind. The wind told the story. It carried a tale of splitting, of atomic fission, to other countries and revealed the truth of the situation. The wind is a prophet, a scientist, a talker.” Linda Hogan
3. “The words ‘genius’ and ‘generous’ come from the Latin root ‘genere’ meaning ‘to beget.’ To have a genius for life is to possess the ability to generate warmth and well-being in others.” Wendy Lustbader
4. “The universe is made of stories—not atoms.” Muriel Ruykeyser
5. “A teacher asked a class, ‘What is the color of apples?’ Most of the children answered red. A few said green. Kevin raised his hand and said white. The teacher tried to explain that apples could be red, green, or sometimes golden, but never white. Kevin was quite insistent and finally said, ‘Look inside.’ Perception without mindfulness keeps us on the surface of things, and we often miss other levels of reality.” Joseph Goldstein
6. “Nothing is obvious. Everything conceals something else… Spiritual awareness is born of encounters with the mystery.” Rabbi Lawrence Kushner
7. “We all need a certain amount of fallow time… Watching the grass grow, sitting on the hillside, staring out the window daydreaming. When we don’t have it, there is a deeper intelligence that won’t come forth.” Sue Bender
8. “We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.” Thich Nhat Hanh
9. “There is an art to wandering. If I have a destination, a plan—an objective—I’ve lost the ability to find serendipity. I’ve become too focused, too single-minded. I am on a quest, not a ramble. I search for the Holy Grail of particularity and miss the chalice freely offered, filled full, and overflowing. Cathy Johnson
10. “A boy and his father were walking along a road when they came to a large stone. The boy said to his father, ‘Do you think if I use all my strength, I can move this rock?’ His father answered, ‘If you use all your strength, I am sure you can do it.” The boy began to push the rock. Exerting himself as much as he could, he pushed and pushed. The rock did not move. Discouraged, he said to his father, ‘You were wrong. I can’t do it.’ His father placed his arm around the boy’s shoulder and said, “No, son. You didn’t use all your strength—you didn’t ask me to help.'”David Wolpe
Did any of these excerpts speak to you today? Do you know why?
Do you cultivate any “practices” that help you to “read the sacred in everyday life”?
PS: I ask your prayers for an Advent retreat day I will be facilitating this Saturday, Dec. 12. It is sponsored by the St. Francis Center for Renewal in (appropriately!) BETHLEHEM, PA. Thank you very much!
For today’s video, I chose the beautiful Advent litany, “Litany of the Word” by Bernadette Farrell. The refrain is “Alleluia” and “Maranatha” meaning “our Lord comes.” I couldn’t find a version with the lyrics, but if you google “Catholic Hymn Blogspot Advent Litany” you will find the words and the same video that is below:
I welcome your responses below. But (as you know) I am still having technical problems. For some reason, my blog isn’t accepting responses. I’m very sorry about that because I value your responses so much!
