Walk With me on Our Journey: Generosity is where it's at! Gratitude and Generosity go hand in hand and heart to heart!

Good Evening Dear Family of Love and God!

Happy Take Care Tuesday! It's time to talk about being generous in heart, generous in spirit, generous in love, and generous in deeds. Lately I have been on the receiving end of generosity and have found it strange accepting help from any one. You see I'm usually the giver not the receiver but this also has taught me how to be grateful and humble and not take anything for granted. I believe that at such a time as this we all need to know how important generosity and being generous is. All we have to do is look at today's media in all of its forms and see a sharp division of rich and poor, generous people and stingy people, hoarders of wealth and widows who give of their lost coin, As people of faith and as human beings we must renew our commitment to being generous. It really isn't all that difficult. Just give from your heart in a way that is pleasing to God. Sometimes it doesn't require us to give of our wealth but be generous in our time, talent, presence, and love. We need to be generous in the CALM Principles every day.

CALM Principles! What are the CALM Principles?
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Let us Sow Seeds of:

C= Compassion
A= Acceptance
L= Love
M = Mercy

Let us speak in words that are:

C= Comforting
A= Appreciative
L= Living and Loving
M= Mindful and Matter

Let our deeds be:
C= Caring and Compassionate
A= Admirable
L= Life giving
M= Mannerly

Let us be generous with our
Companionship
Authenticity
Love
Mien

Yesterday, St. Ignatius of Loyola spoke of generosity and today we see Joseph of Arimathaea being generous in giving up his tomb for Jesus. We honor Joseph of Arimathaea today and will be using the lessons for his feast day. They do have a burial theme but we are looking at the theme of generosity not end of life decisions. That talk is for another day. So let us begin with the prayers of Generosity from St. Ignatius of Loyola as the weaving of a thread. Remember that generosity and gratitude go hand in hand and heart to heart.

Prayer for Generosity

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve.
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done your will.
Amen.

Prayer for Generosity musical meditation

“[L]ove ought to manifest itself in deeds rather than in words.... love consists in a mutual sharing of goods, for example, the lover gives and shares with the beloved what he possesses, or something of that which he has or is able to give; and vice versa, the beloved shares with the lover. Hence, if one has knowledge, he shares it with the one who does not possess it; and so also if one has honors, or riches. Thus, one always gives to the other.”
― Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises

“Gratitude is the first sign of a thinking, rational creature.” –Ven. Solanus Casey

“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.”
― Ignatius of Loyola

“Thank God ahead of time.” –Ven. Solanus Casey

“Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our lord may wish to work in you. it is certainly a higher virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one.”
― Ignatius of Loyola

“O my God, let me remember with gratitude and confess to thee thy mercies toward me.” –St. Augustine of Hippo

God we come to you in the stillness to pray, hear and read your Word, light candles and make vigil.

Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.

.O Gracious Light Phos hilaron

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

God hear the prayers of your people as we light our candles and pray.

God let us light our candles to pray that we may love radically with open hearts, open souls, open spirits, and open minds. Let our love be seen not only in words but deeds. Let our lives show the love that you have given us daily without fear. God let our love be the measuring stick from which we may guide ourselves to do better when we fall short in loving all of our family members. God help us to love with words that have deep and abiding meaning that will build up and not tear down. Give us the courage to support our family members who desire to love and live openly as beloved children of God. God help us to know that Love truly is Love without condition and needs to be celebrated daily in many and exciting ways. God help us to love radically in the service of others and with enough Love Energy to set the world ablaze with enlivened and joyful hearts. We pray these our prayers in the name of God and in the name of Love who is God. Amen.

Psalm 16:5-11

⁵ The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.

⁷ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
¹⁰ For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.

¹¹ You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

“In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.” - St. Teresa of Avila

A Song of Wisdom Sapientia liberavit

Wisdom 10:15-19,20b-21

Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors *

a holy people and a blameless race.

She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, *

withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.

To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, *

and led them by a marvelous way;

She was their shelter by day *

and a blaze of stars by night.

She brought them across the Red Sea, *

she led them through mighty waters;

But their enemies she swallowed in the waves *

and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.

And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name, *

and praised with one voice your protecting hand;

For Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute, *

and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born peop

“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.” –St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Genesis 23:3-9,17-19

3 Abraham rose up from beside his dead, and said to the Hittites, 4‘I am a stranger and an alien residing among you; give me property among you for a burying-place, so that I may bury my dead out of my sight.’ 5 The Hittites answered Abraham, 6‘Hear us, my lord; you are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places; none of us will withhold from you any burial ground for burying your dead.’ 7 Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land. 8He said to them, ‘If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me Ephron son of Zohar, 9 so that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as a possession for a burying-place.’

17 So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, passed 18 to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, in the presence of all who went in at the gate of his city. 19 After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.

A Song of God’s Love

1 John 4:7-11

Beloved, let us love one another, *

for love is of God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, *

for God is Love.

In this the love of God was revealed among us, *

that God sent his only Son into the world,

so that we might live through Jesus Christ.

In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us *

and sent his Son that sins might be forgiven.

Beloved, since God loved us so much, *

we ought also to love one another.

For if we love one another, God abides in us, *

and God’s love will be perfected in us.

“Out of gratitude and love for Him, we should desire to be reckoned fools.” –St. Ignatius of Loyola

James 1:17-18

17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.* 18 In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” - St. Ambrose

A Song of Pilgrimage Priusquam errarem

Ecclesiasticus 51:13-16,20b-22

Before I ventured forth,

even while I was very young, *

I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

In the forecourts of the temple I asked for her, *

and I will seek her to the end.

From first blossom to early fruit, *

she has been the delight of my heart.

My foot has kept firmly to the true path, *

diligently from my youth have I pursued her.

I inclined my ear a little and received her; *

I found for myself much wisdom and became adept in her.

To the one who gives me wisdom will I give glory, *

for I have resolved to live according to her way.

From the beginning I gained courage from her, *

therefore I will not be forsaken.

In my inmost being I have been stirred to seek her, *

therefore have I gained a good possession.

As my reward the Almighty has given me the gift of language,*

and with it will I offer praise to God.

“O God, grant that whatever good things I have, I may share generously with those who have not, and whatever good things I do not have, I may request humbly from those who do.” –St. Thomas Aquinas

Luke 23:50-56

50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 5 1had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.* 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments.

On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

“Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.” –St. JohnPaul II

The Song of Mary Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.From this day all generations will call me blessed: *you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,and holy is your name.You have mercy on those who fear you *from generation to generation.You have shown strength with your arm *and scattered the proud in their conceit,Casting down the mighty from their thrones *and lifting up the lowly.You have filled the hungry with good things *and sent the rich away empty.You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *for you have remembered your promise of mercy,The promise made to our forebears, *to Abraham and his children for ever.

Collect of the Day for the Feast Day of Joseph of Arimathaea

Merciful God, whose servant Joseph of Arimathaea with reverence and godly fear prepared the body of our Lord and Savior for burial, and laid it in his own tomb: Grant to us, your faithful people, grace and courage to love and serve Jesus with sincere devotion all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as You deserve.” –St. Ignatius of Loyola

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is

hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where

there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where

there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where

there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to

be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is

in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we

are born to eternal life. Amen.

God we come to you with spirits filled with confusion and frayed nerves we pray that we may learn how to take care of ourselves in the right way. God hear the prayers of your people.

God, we come to you with our prayers for all those who are addicted to the negative aspects of social media may we learn to have balance and use these tools in the right way to your glory and in your service. God hear the prayers of your people.

God we come to you needing your gentle taps on our shoulder that we may be directed towards the right way to care for the least of these. God, hear the prayers of your people.

God we come to you and bring our tired bodies, minds, and spirits that we may find rest and healing.
God, hear the prayers of your people.

God, we come to you seeking ways that we may be bridge builders and peacemakers. God hear the prayers of your people.

God we come to you with hearts on fire to serve you and all human and living beings in love, kindness,joy, mercy, and in the willingness of our being. God hear the prayers of your people.

God, we come to you seeking ways to lay down hatred, division, terror, violence, and all things that draw us away from you and each other. God hear the prayers of your people.

God we come to you at the very core of our beings that we may stand in your loving presence and that tonight we may become your CALM (Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful) Children.
God hear the prayers of your people.

God we come to you and add or additional prayers, thanksgivings, remembrances, and celebrations_____________ God hear the prayers of your people.

God we come to you and light our candles in love, prayer, and in union with you, each other and ourselves. God hear the prayers of your people.
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Prayers of Commitment

God help us to commit to each other every day to be mindful that everyone matters.