Praying Each Day in May

[MajestyJo]

On his Visit to Britain in 1982, Pope John
Paul II spoke in Glasgow. The Pope said
that Jesus offers a new way of living:

“to be gentle, generous, simple,
and above all, sincere;
to avoid being arrogant,
fault-finding, or self-seeking.
The disciples of the new Kingdom
must seek happiness
even amidst poverty, deprivation,
tears and oppression.
To aim for the Kingdom
requires a radical change
in outlook, in mentality, in behaviour,
in relationships with others.

Jesus offers a new way of life…
He has a specific task in life
for each and every one of us.
Each of us is hand-picked,
called by name by Jesus.”

This is an excerpt from the page of this date in
‘Praying Each Day of the Year’,
a 3-volume book
by Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
you call us friends
and you call each one of us
by name.
May your Holy Spirit
be fully alive in us
that we may truly
appreciate and love ourselves,
and so more readily
value and serve others.
When we experience sorrow
or the loss of someone,
give us courage and support
that we may better encourage others
who share
the same kind of experience.
Lead us to act justly and fairly,
helping people
to see the best in one another,
so that those who have fallen out
may be reconciled and live in peace.
May we learn always
to be genuine and sincere,
avoiding arrogance
and doing others down,
treating other people
as the equals that they are.
Bless us when times are hard,
and walk with us
as the Good Shepherd
who leads and protects. Amen.