Tag Archives: Road

Morning Offering: 05. 25. 25

Today’s Reflection: Our Lady of the Way (Madonna della Strada)  

Our Lady of the Way,
stay with us when we grow weary of the journey;
for the road is long
and our hearts are weak.
Strengthen us with the patience and fortitude
to continue on
in pursuit of a whole and just world;
in pursuit of a whole and just self.
Come, be our guide.

Our Lady of the Way,
lead us when we cannot see the path.
Take us by the hand as a Mother;
whispering comfort in our ears,
steering us through the dark,
guarding us from the terrors of the night.
Infuse us with your courage,
with your refusal to bow to fear and the unknown.
For in you we find the Light that moves us forward.

Our Lady of the Way,
show us the mystery you revealed to Ignatius
so many years past:
the mystery of letting go.
That we would not cling to our packs nor our sandals nor our cloaks
but release to the path what the path requires.
Because for all that we lay down,
we pick up something greater;
we pick up freedom.

Our Lady of the Way

show us the way.
Amen.

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.

Note: The feast of Our Lady of the Way is celebrated May 24. The reference to ‘Ignatius’ in the text is St. Ignatius of Loyola SJ.

Morning Offering: 10. 01. 24

Today’s Reflection: Responding to a request – My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. —Thomas Merton  

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: 04. 01. 24

Today’s Reflection: Let us look to the cross and be filled with peace, knowing that Christ has walked this road and walks it now with us and with all our brothers and sisters. — St. Teresa of Avila    

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: 10. 26. 23

Today’s Reflection: I find myself re-visiting Merton every so often — My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. — Excerpt from a prayer by Thomas Merton 

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: 08. 02. 23

Today’s Reflection: If you get lost on the road of life…. God allows U-turns. — Author 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.

Morning Offering: 04. 25. 23

Today’s Reflection: Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. —Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude
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: 01. 01. 23

Today’s Reflection: A personal favourite to start off the new year – My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. — Thomas Merton.
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: 09. 26. 22

Today’s Reflection: A Prayer from Thomas Merton
My Lord God
I have no idea where I am going.
I cannot see the road ahead of me
and I do not know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe
that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope
that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always.
Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and will never leave me
to face my perils alone. ― Thomas Merton.
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: 06. 10. 22

Today’s Reflection: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for never giving up, for walking alongside us until our eyes are at last opened to see you in the midst of our daily life and concerns. Open my eyes to see you in discouraging and desolate situations. May your presence continue to surprise me along the road. Amen.— Sister Jessica Kerber.
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.

Exercise: After viewing the photo and reading the text, close your eyes and put yourself in the picture, walking the road with Jesus at your side. What are you saying ?

Morning Offering: 04. 08. 22

Today’s Reflection: In a frame of mind for this personal fave: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen. — Thomas Merton.
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.