(This is a meditative Homily – with pauses between sentences for reflection.)

In the Opening Prayer, loving God, you encourage us
to ask for an increase of the gifts of your grace.
Grace: for our hearts and spirits.

And so we pray.

As you, loving God are merciful, help us to
show mercy to others;

As you are patient with us, help us to be
more tolerant of the crosses we face;

As you are both kind and just, help us to
to be so too, especially in this time of
Covid-19.

As you are gracious, help us to show respect
to all by taking the necessary steps to protect
them from the virus;

As you are compassionate, help us to show
compassion to our brothers and sisters,
especially those most in need of our care
and concern.

Jesus, you tell us in the parable of the sower and the soil,
that the field is our heart.

Give us spirit-filled hearts.

Hearts that are free of the “weeds” of selfishness
and unbridled pride, of prejudice and the sin of racism,
of a lack of respect for life, and indifference to the
plight of the planet.

Open wide our hearts to take in the joys and sorrows
of all our brothers and sisters; children of God – as are we.

Hearts that can truly call God, “Abba.”
Holy Spirit, you come to our aid in our weakness.
When we do not know how to pray, you pray
for us.

We are introverts and extroverts, each with our
own distinctive way of praying:
contemplative and relational,
each equal in the sight of the Father.

We know that the Creator wishes an ever
deeper relationship with us:

For our part, we do this by
loving God with all our mind, body, and spirit
and our neighbor as ourself.

Relational and Contemplative.

We believe that
no humble act or thought, seen by God alone, is lost.

End the reflection by reciting the “Glory Be.”

Fr. Max Oliva, SJ
July 19, 2020