Mercyworks Burlingame

05/23/2022

Prayer for Ukraine written by a Ukrainian woman.

Father-God, may the attackers’ fingers freeze; may they drop things; may they not see clearly; may their equipment malfunction; may they experience overwhelming hopelessness, enormous fatigue and a complete loss of any desire to fight; may their communication be broken; may there be confusion. Lead them to surrender. Stretch the kilometers before them into endless kilometers of nonadvancement. Remove their leadership and replace them with people who make decisions that reflect a fear of you.
Oh, God, infuse defenders with incredible surges of renewed alertness, strength, hope, courage. Inspire those who want to help. Show them specific, effective ideas. Move them swiftly and safely.
The worst is yet to come, Lord, if you do not stop it. But please, no peace where there is no peace. We ask for peace united with righteousness and truth.
God of all comfort, be physically present with all the mothers, fathers, grandparents and children who are hiding, hearing, smelling, enduring. Warm them; fill them with food; give them water, toilets, communication with their loved ones, the Gospel, hope in you.
We repent of making idols of political leaders and news outlets. Forgive us for wanting them to be our gods and saviors. Forgive us for being unreasonable, for not wanting to admit both the good and bad in all of our leaders. It is this spirit that leads us to dictators because we abandon responsibility and reason. We confess the seeds of war that live in our own hearts.
We humble our hearts, our bodies. We ask you for mercy. Thank you that you love mercy and have all

05/03/2022

May Mary’s Month

Ever wonder about Catholics' relationship with the Virgin Mary? We answer all your questions in this short two (okay, three) minute video.

04/17/2022

Stations of the Cross for Ukraine!

As a form of solidarity with all living in Ukraine and a prayer for their rescue, here is a form of the Stations of the Cross built from the stories of Ukrainians suffering from the violence of Russia’s invasion.

04/17/2022

We are called to the wait of the Christian, which is called hope.

03/26/2022

Brother Roger of Taizé, writing about discernment and big choices.

When we are faced with the Gospel call to say yes for our entire lifetime, sometimes the question arises: “How can I remain faithful?” The yes fascinates, and at the same time, it can frighten. And we hesitate. But one day we are astonished to find ourselves on the road, walking in Christ’s footsteps: the yes had already been placed in the very depths of our being by the Holy Spirit. Then we begin to understand Mary’s response: “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
--Brother Roger of Taizé

03/12/2022

From Pope Francis

Pope Francis at the Canonization Anniversary Mass at the Gesu today, in his homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration:

"Let us not allow ourselves to be sucked into a clericalism that leads to rigidity, or into an ideology that leads to divisiveness ... We have been called to be together."

"For us Jesuits ... we are called to go ... to the borders between heaven and earth, where men and women confront God with their difficulties, so that we can accompany them in their restless seeking and their religious doubt ... The enemy of human nature would persuade us to keep the path of empty but comfortable routines and familiar landscapes, whereas the Spirit impels us to openness ... We need only to think of St. Francis Xavier."

"This is the risk of a static faith, a neatly parked faith ... in which we consider ourselves respectful disciples, but are not in fact following Jesus. Instead we passively stay put and, without realizing, it doze off... like the disciples in the Gospel. In Gethsemane too the same disciples would fall asleep."

"To pray is to bring the beating heart of current affairs into God's presence, so that God's gaze will shine out upon history..."

"We are often tempted ... to give primary importance to so many secondary needs. We risk focusing on customs, habits and traditions, and set our hearts on passing things, which makes us forget what 'remains .... How important to work on our hearts, so that they can distinguish between the things of God that remain, and the things of this world that pass away ... With our holy Father Ignatius, help us to preserve discernment, our precious legacy ... For discernment enables us to see anew all things in Christ."

02/25/2022

02/16/2022

A Prayer for Ukraine by Rev Inderjit Bhogal, Honorary President of the Fellowship of Reconciliation:

A PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Holy God,

We hold before you all who live close to war and conflict; and all who live close to the threat of war and violence.

We remember especially at this time, people in Ukraine and Russia. We pray for nonviolent and peaceful resolutions of conflict.

Give us to us all hearts of hospitality and sanctuary, forgive us all our hostility and hatred.

Bring all people to the humanity you give us, and to the reconciliation and healing for which you give your life.

Strengthen us all to work with you to build justice and peace, reconciliation and healing, in our hearts and homes, in our streets,
in all communities, neighbourhoods and nations.

Bless all who live lives for the peace and wellbeing of others, and make their service fruitful.

In the name of Christ.

Amen.

Inderjit Bhogal,
Honorary President,
The Fellowship of Reconciliation

01/24/2022

"[All] this time God has been trying
to find me, to know me, and to love me.
The question is not “How am I to find God?”
but “How am I to let myself be found by him?”
The question is not “How am I to know God?”
but “How am I to let myself be known by God?”
And, finally, the question is not
“How am I to love God?” but
“How am I to let myself be loved by God?”

- Henri Nouwen,
theologian

12/09/2021

December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception

James Martin, S.J., reflects on a unusual artistic rendering of the Annunciation.