God of Miriam and Moses, you led your people through the desert. You guided them by day and night and made them your covenant of love. Let us walk with you in faithfulness, following the way shown to us by Jesus and the prophets. Be with us on our journey, oh God of mercy. Amen

“He has helped so many through so much. And He will be there for you in your most personal moments and through all the times of your life, whether they are troubled or triumphant.

Take comfort in that thought. Hold it inside you this day and all the days of your life.” Alan Austin

I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. Luke 11:8

“Jesus taught us to be persistent in our prayers – to ask God for what we want and to keep on asking. I wonder if this mirrors God‘s own persistence with us. I sometimes get the sense that God keeps asking me for what he wants. A slight prick of conscience grows sharper if I try to ignore it. A passing impulse to help someone in need grows more insistent if I do not act on it. The other day, I was about to skip my prayer time to get a jump on my to do list when my usually standoffish cat climbed onto my lap. It felt like God himself pinning me to my seat, insisting that I stay for a while, making the point he’s persisted in making for thousands of years already: Here I am.

Loving God, help me to heed your persistent call.” Karla Manternach

“Today is the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene:

1) She never abandoned Jesus, as most other disciples did.

2) In John’s gospel it is to her that the Risen Christ appears first.

3) In the time between the Risen One appearing to her and her proclaiming the resurrection to the other disciples, Mary Magdalene was the church on earth, for only to her had been revealed the full Paschal mystery.

4) She is known as the ‘Apostle to the Apostles.’

5) She was NOT a prostitute.

James Martin, SJ

But the Lord answered me, Say not, ‘ I am too young.’ To whom ever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Jeremiah 1:7

“Last year, my college-aged son transferred schools. COVID and attendant restrictions had done a number those first two years, so he decided to transfer closer to home where many of his high school friends studied.

As with every decision, there is a loss, gain and opportunity. For just weeks into the new school year, the father of one of his friends died. Another mom visited the crew soon after and asked how the boy was doing. She reported that my son, who lost his own father when he was younger, said quietly, ‘I can help him. Maybe that’s why I’m here now.’

We’re never too old or too young, and, if we’re open to God, we might never be in the ‘wrong’ place at all.

God of Wisdom and solace, use me to help others wherever I find myself today.” Amy Welborn

This reflection is so true. Each one of us just needs to open our eyes to see what God is calling us to do. Sometimes we see it in hindsight