Category Archives: Uncategorized

Morning Offering: 12. 28. 25

Today’s Reflection: The Work of Christmas Begins

The work of Christmas begins: When the carols have been stilled; When the star-topped tree is taken down; When family and friends are gone home; When we are back to our schedules.

The work of Christmas begins:
  To welcome the refugee,
  To heal a broken planet,
  To feed the hungry,
  To build bridges of trust, not walls of fear,
  To share our gifts,
  To seek justice and peace for all people,
  To bring Christ’s light to the world. — by Michael Dougherty, a variation on Howard Thurman’s ‘When the Song of the Angels is Stilled’     

Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich. 

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 12. 27. 25

Today’s Reflection: Jesus never said, ‘Worship me’, but he often said, ‘Follow me’. — Fr. Richard Rohr 

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 12. 26. 25

Today’s Reflection: Prayer

In these damp, dark, dreary days,
a star so brilliant beacons
beckons believers forth
from fallow fields and faraway fiefdoms
to a manger most mundane…
        we who have walked in darkness,
        have seen a great light.

—Excerpt from Simple Savior Born in a Manger by Fr. Aaron Malnick, from Poems to Retreat By 

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 12. 25. 25

Today’s Reflection: Are you one of the Inn crowd or one of the Stable few? — Unknown

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

 Best wishes to our readers and followers for a blessed, happy, peaceful Christmas!

Morning Offering: 12. 24. 25

Today’s Reflection: A Cook’s Advent Prayer

What joy this brings me, Lord.  Thank you for guiding me into the kitchen for some time of silence with you.  The room fills with wonderful smells and I share tastes and samples with my family as they make extra trips through the kitchen on days like this.  Thank you for each and every one of these special people in my family.  They are like the ingredients of my own life, adding spice and heat and wonderful flavor and melding together into a unique dish designed to glorify you. 

You know, God, cooking is quite a bit like my life.  It’s messy, I get careless and sometimes things don’t turn out as I had planned.  But in the mess of my life, that’s where I can turn to you.  Help me when I have to deal with being so imperfect.  Bless me with humility when I grapple with my own poverty.  Let me feel how deeply you love me, even when all I have to offer is scorched and humble.

Be with me Lord, in this kitchen today.  Help me to take the time in this intimate silence with you, to pray for each person who will eat this food.  Allow me to remember all of those around the world who have so little food, and bless those who share what little they have. — Creighton University Online Ministries  

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.   

Morning Offering: 12. 23. 25

Today’s Reflection: God, help me to slow down and rest in the peace of your presence. — Catholic Advent prayer site

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 22. 25

Today’s Reflection: He comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbour.— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 21. 25 Fourth Advent

Today’s Reflection: Lord, as I prepare my heart to celebrate your birth at Christmas, help me to get busy about the work of building your kingdom here on earth, today and every day. Amen. —Jesuit Prayer team

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 20. 25

Today’s Reflection:  Prayer

Lord,
I ask:
“What if it doesn’t work?”
You reply:
“Trust the process.”

I shake my head and ask:
“What if it fails?”
You reply:
“Believe it’s all leading somewhere.”

Back and forth we go,
Me asking my worried questions,
You issuing your patient replies
until finally I ask:
“What if I am afraid?”
You reply:
“Know I am right here.”

Amen.—Gretchen Crowder, Campus Minister at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 19. 25

Today’s Reflection:  

Loving God,

may we be moved to act in compassion

so that all our sisters and brothers

who have been forced from their homes,

may receive a warm welcome

and have enough to eat.

Amen. —CAFOD prayer site    

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.