Cradled

SCRIPTURE
- Mark 10:14         
“Jesus said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.’”  

REFLECTION
- Sr. Carol

MUSIC
- Lord, Let us See Your Kindness by Songs in His Presence

- Brahms Lullaby for Babies by Baby Sleep Lullaby

NOTES
-

PRAYER OF LETTING GO
To You do I belong, O God,
into Your hands I surrender my life.
Pour out Your Spirit upon me
that I may love You perfectly,
and serve You faithfully
until my soul rests in You.

Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:20

Tell all the nations how glorious God is. That was the antiphon from Vespers last night. And what a lovely way to begin our prayer this morning. Setting aside our struggles, our burdens, if for just a few minutes, to give our whole selves to God as we bow before Him this day in prayer. Friends, you are welcome here. Let us pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_03 1:10

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. And grandish salvation.

SPEAKER_00 2:38

Jesus said to them, Let the little children come to me. Do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. The word of the Lord. As God's children are destined for heaven, we are called to be childlike. Children are inherently innocent and dependent on parents. They explore the world with delight and wonder, marveling at things we adults often overlook. Most of all, children see others with the best intentions. Children can be mischievous, frustrating, cooperative, loving. When a child is struggling crying and hurting, the adult wants to just pick the child up and hold him or her tightly until the child starts to wiggle. Markling in Vision 2000 relates a story about a little girl who returned home after visiting the family of a classmate who had died suddenly. Her father was annoyed. He questioned her, Why did you go over there at this time? The child shrugged to console her mother. The father continued, but what could you do? Nothing beside the child. So I sat in her lap and cried with her. Sometimes when I'm struggling with a situation or a problem that baffles me, during prayer, I'll imagine myself crawling up on God the Father's lap, laying my head on his chest as he holds me. What results is an assurance that I am deeply loved and a peace that only God can give. No matter our age, we all have a child deep inside of us. Let's allow this little one to surface, especially with God, so God can cuddle and cradle us in love.

SPEAKER_01 6:49

Cradled by our Father, we pray. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Let us pray. Loving God, teach us to come before you with the heart of a child. When life becomes too heavy for us to understand, remind us that we do not have to have all the answers. We need only to come to you. Take us into your arms, cradle us in your love, and quiet the worries within us. Give us eyes that still see wonder and hearts that believe the best in others. May we never outgrow our need for you, but always find our home in your loving embrace. We ask through Christ our Lord. And as his children we pray, To you do I belong, O God. Into your hands I surrender my life. Pour out your spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you. I love that image that Sister Carol closed with in her reflection. Crawling into God's lap and letting him hold us. What a lovely image. And maybe that's what faith is all about. You know, not not having the strength to stand on our own, but having the trust to be cradled and held by God. Something I'm going to take into the day today. Folks, thank you for being with us, and may Almighty God now hold you in blessing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Go in peace, find the wonder, and we'll see you tomorrow.