Oh God, our Heavenly Father, thank you for all your many blessings.
Bless, guide, restore, strengthen me and mine with wealth and mighty force.
Let us turn to the Gospel reading from Matthew 9:18-26. The official’s desperate plea for his daughter is a reminder that in times of need, we must approach Christ with faith and courage. Jesus’ response to the woman suffering from hemorrhages shows compassion and healing through simple yet profound acts of touch and belief.
Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.
And from that hour the woman was cured.
May I have the same faith as this woman, trusting in your grace and provision for me and mine. Grant us wisdom to see your blessings in our daily lives, and strength to share them with others.
In today’s reading from Hosea 2:16-17c-18, 21-22, we learn that God desires a personal relationship with his people, a love that is steadfast and unending. Let this love guide us as we seek your presence in our lives.
Thus says the LORD:
I will allure her;
I will lead her into the desert
and speak to her heart.
She shall respond there as in the days of her youth,
when she came up from the land of Egypt.
Restore, mend, and strengthen our hearts with the love of Christ. May we always seek you and turn to you when trials arise.
On that day, says the LORD,
She shall call me “My husband,”
and never again “My baal.”
I will espouse you to me forever:
I will espouse you in right and in justice,
in love and in mercy;
I will espouse you in fidelity,
and you shall know the LORD.
In this time of reflection, let us reaffirm our commitment to you. May we walk faithfully with you, always acknowledging your goodness and mercies.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Grant me the ability to be a blessing to others, to share my wealth and strength in ways that glorify you. Let my life be a reflection of your love and mercy on this earth.
R. (8a)
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
Let us pray for ourselves, our family, friends, and all your children. Lift up their needs and well-being. We surrender to you.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
We also have a silent request: may we carry out his teachings with compassion and joy. May our lives be a testimony to your love.
So be it.
We pray these things to you our Lord God, through Christ. And It Is So.