I'm very much aware of how blessed I am to be able to go away for 8 days and, on the Atlantic shore,spend time with the Lord...   I wish you could all come with me!  But since that's not possible, I invite you to join me in spirit and i prayer.  I came across this verse today, Psalm 19:41              Lord, let your love come upon me... Those words capture what I hope will be my experience while on retreat - and you don't need to be away on retreat to pray this with me! Lord, let your love come upon me,   &nbs ..read more

I''m about to leave for an 8 day retreat at Eastern Point Retreat House, on the coast in Gloucester, MA.  Over the years I've made many retreats here, the first being 51 years ago, my ordination retreat in 1973.    I'll be making a directed retreat which means the 8 days will be spent in silence, broken only by a daily conversation with my retreat director and with prayer and song at Mass each day.  The house rule for the rest of the time is silence, including meal times in the dining room.   People often ask if I find the silence difficult to handle: not at all!&nb ..read more

Pick me up, Lord, and dust me off: polish my tarnished spots... Give me a kick just where I need it to get me going again... Open my eyes to see what's before me now, in the moment, today... Jump start my will to do the right thing as fully as I may be able... Breathe in my soul, fill my heart to the brim with the peace and joy of your Spirit... Grant me the grace of a new brand new day, blessed by your wisdom and truth... And stay with me, Lord, hour by hour, step by step by my side... And when day is done I pray for good rest till you shake me awake in the morn... Amen   Tweet ..read more

Passover begins at sundown today, April 21, and will conclude on Tuesday, April 30.  This year the joy of Passover will be tempered by the tragic situation in the Holy Land.  For our meditation tonight I turn to my friend, Alden Solovy, and his beautiful prayer: "Children of Gaza, Children of Israel."    Dear Children, What can we say to you in times of war? What can we say when you run for shelter, not for joy, When you hide, not to seek, but huddle in fear? No, it is not a game when you Cry tears of dread in the night. O grief, O war and terror, You have stolen our chil ..read more

Morning Coffee by George Mendoza    The scriptures for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (4/21 this year) always offer images of Christ as the Good Shepherd.  Eight years ago I wrote this Good Shepherd Monday Morning Offering.  Of all the prayers I've written over 17 years of blogging, this is one of my favorites. Here's the latest rendition...   With yesterday's scriptures still in my mind and heart, Lord, I offer you this prayer:     shepherd me     through the ups and downs,     joys and sorrows,     tem ..read more

Here's the audio of my homily for April 21, 2024.  For better understanding, here's the gospel text I was preaching.   If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!   Tweet    SUBSCRIBE HERE!    ..read more

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Tonight we'll pray for the help of the Good Shepherd who searches out and finds us, his sheep, when we're lost... We'll begin with some words from Entering the Silence, by the great spiritual writer, Thomas Merton. Thomas Merton. Good Shepherd, you have in me a wild and crazy sheep in love with thorns and brambles. But please don’t get tired of looking for me! I know you won’t. You have found me. All I have to do is stay found.     Image source         &nbs ..read more

Every year, the gospel on the Fourth Sunday of Easter tells us about the Good Shepherd.  You might want to pray over Psalm 23 this morning before moving on to my Pause for Prayer for Good Shepherd Sunday... The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the meadows where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort. You ..read more

Image source Lord, so many people need a break... - folks who bear loss and grief deep inside, whose tears are a sign of the ache that throbs in an empty place in their heart of hearts... - folks who need rest from working too hard, seldom, if ever, getting a chance to relax, to rest and recoup... - folks who've lost homes to fires and floods, lost all they loved and claimed as their own: their treasured possessions, the memories dear... - folks whose plates are always too full, whose burdens are heavy and far too many, who truly need help to cope and get by.... -folks who work ..read more

Yesterday,  an unusual noise led me to bring my car in for service and I learned that my brakes were in need of repair, which work was done this morning. On way home, the first time I hit the brakes  I became immediately aware  of how bad my brakes had been!   Now, just a tap of my foot was enough to begin  to slow my car towards a stop     - but what about before ?   I was immediately grateful for that unusual noise that helped me discover      I'd been living dangerously,     that I couldn't stop as easily, as ..read more