Weekly Prayer & Reflection
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6/5/2011 Seventh Sunday of Easter / Ascension of the Lord
Debra Marie Sciano, SSND |
Love, compassion and hope for the future
Scripture for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
First Reading: Acts 1:12-14
Responsorial: Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8
Second Reading: 1 Peter 4:13-16
Gospel: John 17:1-11a
Scripture for the Solemnity of the Ascension
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Responsorial: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
Our focus during these past weeks has been remembrance of the richness of our history, gratitude for all the graces we have received, and hopefulness for whatever will come.
As I write this last reflection for the Milwaukee Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, I am struck by the words of the Gospel for today taken from John 16 – “You will weep and mourn… you will grieve, but your grief will become joy… Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”
My prayer is simply that we trust in those words by opening our hearts, our minds and our wills with love, daring and assurance that our God will continue to bless us in our lifelong commitment to bring all to oneness.
I close with an excerpt from a poem by John O’Donohue, entitled, “A Morning Offering”, which has been a daily prayer for me throughout this time of transition.
May my mind come alive today
To the invisible geography
That invites me to new frontiers,
To break the dead shell of yesterdays,
To risk being disturbed and changed.
May I have the courage today
To live the life that I would love,
To postpone my dreams no longer,
But to do at last what I came here for,
And waste my heart on fear no more.
And may we always be attentive to the needs of those for whom we are sent to bring that love, compassion and hope for the future.
Lovingly submitted by Debra M. Sciano, SSND, Provincial Leader, 2005-2011
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