Catholic Meditations

O God,
forgive us,
the poor children of your creation,
of the evil that is done in your name -
evil done by people
who think this will please you -
the lives shattered,
the twisted justice,
the acts of death and darkness,
sometimes against people who didn't even realize
that they had been marked as the enemy,
the justification for dark desire
revenge,
control
masked in your goodness,
the rationale for hate
covered with your light.

O God,
give us hearts that understand brokenness,
hearts that long to heal hurt,
spirits that cry out for mercy and justice
hearts that reach out to bind the wounds,
heal the hurts,
salve the lives marred by hate,
injustice,
greed,
ambition,
until we can be the true witness of your good,
and what we do in your name
is directed only by your light.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2005

Why here, God? Why not over there?
as you tug on my life,
shatter my illusions,
reform my expectations, desires, concepts,
opening one door,
closing another
as you move me along to where you want to be.

Sometimes, Lord,
I am confused.
Help me to accept the road you would have me take,
the place where you want to use me,
and give me the wisdom to see
and the grace to accept
the path you are opening before me.

Block my attempts to go elsewhere,
for I am stubborn
and tug at the leash,
filled with ideas of nice things that could be,
but are obviously not what you want me to do
nor where you are leading me.

Fill my heart with that humility
that says, like Mary,
be it done to me
according to your word,
and that acceptance that joins Jesus in saying,
not my will, but yours.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2005

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