The God Minute
The God Minute is a 10-minute daily prayer to help you draw close to God. Peaceful music, sacred scripture and a short reflection are woven together in a spiritual harmony to bring peace and focus to your day.
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The God Minute
Sorrows
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SCRIPTURE
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
REFLECTION
- Javier
MUSIC
- Were You There - Instrumental
NOTES
- BLOG: Vincentian Accompaniment
PRAYER OF LETTING GO
To You do I belong, O God,
into Your hands I surrender my life.
Pour out Your Spirit upon me
that I may love You perfectly,
and serve You faithfully
until my soul rests in You.
Yesterday was the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, and today we acknowledge the woman collapsed in grief at the foot of that cross, his mother, on this the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Welcome to prayer. I'm Father Ron with the privilege of leading you today. Let us pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
unknownAmen.
SPEAKER_00O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
SPEAKER_03A canticle to Mary, I am never alone. Mother Mary, you understand my burdens, for you have known deep struggle and piercing sorrow. When grief presses heavily upon my spirit, I draw near to you without hesitation, knowing you receive every sigh and draw it near to your immaculate heart.
SPEAKER_02In moments when I feel lost and unseen, you remind me that I am never alone. You stand beside me on the dark paths, holding a lamp of hope when my own light has burned out.
SPEAKER_03Your tender love points me toward healing. It softens the sharp edges of my pain. Like a mother soothing a restless child, you restore my weary soul, and gently clear the way for new strength to rise.
SPEAKER_02Help me to extend the same kindness to others that you so freely offer to me. May my words bring warmth and my hands be open to comfort, sharing the embrace I have found in you.
SPEAKER_03Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKER_02As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
SPEAKER_00The word of the Lord. When was the last time you had a serious conversation with someone you love? Do you recall the mood? Usually serious conversations with those close to us don't always come easy. Part of it has to do with the fact that they carry an out-of-the-ordinary feeling and require us to be honest. Put differently, by the time we sit down to talk honestly, we have reflected on what we want to say and how we want to say it. Today's reading reflects this kind of dynamic, honest conversation between God and His people. We know that by the time these words have come about, much has transpired in their relationship. There were some good, some bad, and some failures that needed attention. In his conversation, God is asking that they be faithful to their covenant. They are to humble themselves, pray, seek his face, and turn from their wicked ways. This is not so much a rebuke as it is a display of sincerity. God is not skirting the issue or wasting time. We can imagine the serious mood. These are honest words being shared by someone who is profoundly committed. God is not letting go. God's love runs deep. It is the relationship of care that makes accountability possible. For us to hear this conversation is truly an invitation to embrace God's deep love for us. It is an invitation to be humble and reflect on our own relationship with the Lord, to bring ourselves before his loving care with honesty and appreciation. God really wants to hear what we have to say. God wants to forgive our transgressions. God desires from age to age to heal those he loves. May our prayer bring us closer to God's love in Jesus, for in faith we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Jesus is not letting go.
SPEAKER_01Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Let us pray. Mary, our Lady of Sorrows, you stood faithfully beneath the cross, your heart pierced by grief, yet steadfast in love. Remind us that no suffering is beyond the reach of God's love, and that even at the foot of the cross, hope is never lost. Lead us always closer to your Son and help us surrender our joys and sorrows into his loving hands. We ask through Christ, our Lord.
SPEAKER_03Amen.
SPEAKER_01We say our letting go prayer every day here at the God Minute, and considering today's memorial, I can easily see Mary praying these same words. That together we now lift in surrender. To you do I belong, O God. Into your hands I surrender my life. Pour out your Spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you. I'm not sure you're aware of the song that is playing underneath our prayer here. It's called, Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? You old-time Catholics probably know it like I do. It's a song usually sung on Good Friday during Lent, but considering our memorial today, recognizing Our Lady at the foot of the cross, filled with sorrow, it's rather appropriate, I think, because she was there, teaching us the great lesson that whatever sorrow or burden is upon us, God can bless and redeem in his Son. A promise of hope as we go forth today with his blessing upon us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
unknownAmen.
SPEAKER_01Mother Mary, watch over us, guide us in love, and we'll see you all tomorrow.
