A Work in Progress

SCRIPTURE
- Philippians 1:6
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  

REFLECTION
- Sarah

MUSIC
- Peace is Flowing Like a River

- Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

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

SPEAKER_03 0:35

Only because I know you're singing along to this hymn, the words ring true as we gather in prayer, reflecting, I think, the song in our hearts, Praise to you, Lord the Almighty, and blessed to your beloved Mother, whose name we also praise. Welcome to prayer. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

unknown 1:09

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed are you among women. Psalm 42, I can't lift myself. With an unquenchable thirst, I long for God. A craving consumes me, taking over all my thoughts.

SPEAKER_00 1:36

I need refreshment in life and a new beginning. I want God's Spirit to flow, filling me again with vibrancy.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

But how do I find this? How can God release this in me? When I am drained, I lack energy, and my confidence seems to fade.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Do I trust God? Do I even trust myself? I play through my mind times of earlier fulfillment when I felt I was thriving, feeling alive in God.

SPEAKER_02 2:18

So why do I forget? Why am I sad? Let me recover my faith and hope, and live to praise you again.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

I know I can't lift myself up alone. It's not that easy. But God reminds me that I have succeeded in the past, and with God, can do so again.

SPEAKER_02 2:46

God's presence is near. The love of the Holy One is around me. I find a new song rising, a song of hope and praise.

SPEAKER_00 2:59

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

And I am sure of this that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. The word of the Lord. The other day, I went over to my sister's house and noticed one of my niece Lydia's paintings sitting there. She's never had an art lesson, but she's incredibly creative, and I was impressed. So when she came into the room, I said, Lydia, your painting is beautiful. She smiled, kind of rolled her eyes as only a teenager can do, and said, Thanks, Aunt Sarah. But I'm not finished yet. I don't know why that simple little comment has stayed with me. But it has. I think it's because I don't always give myself that same grace. I can be pretty hard on myself. I notice the same weaknesses that keep showing up. I lose my patience. I definitely worry more than I should. I find myself asking God to help me with some of the very same things I've been praying about for years. When I hear Paul's words today, I'm sure of this. That he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. It doesn't say has completed. It says will complete. And that's exactly what I need to hear. I still need Jesus. I think I need him more today than I realized I did ten years ago. The older I get, the more I recognize how much I can't do on my own. And the good news is God is not discouraged by that. When I look back over my life, I can see he's been a work alone. Usually not through dramatic moments. A conversation that changed me. A difficult season that deepened my faith. Looking back, I can see God was doing far more than I realized at the time. And he's still at work today. The truth is abundantly clear. I need him to keep changing me. I need him to keep reminding me who I am when I forget. I need his mercy on the days when I fail, and his strength to keep trying again. Maybe that's what Paul is telling us today. Don't confuse unfinished with unsuccessful. God has never promised to finish his work in us overnight. But he has promised that he won't walk away from it. So if you've been discouraged because you're still struggling, listen again to Paul's words. Then imagine hearing God whisper something a lot like what Lydia said to me that day. I'm not finished yet. He's not finished loving you. He's not finished healing you. He's not finished shaping you into the person he created you to be. So don't give up on yourself.

SPEAKER_03 7:26

God certainly hasn't why we come before Him now and place our needs. And with the intercession of His Blessed Mother, we pray. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, even when I cannot see it, you are quietly at work within me. In moments of joy and in seasons of waiting, you are shaping my heart and drawing me ever closer to you. Help me to trust the work of your spirit even when growth feels slow or hidden. With the inspiration of your mother, may we give our whole selves to you and trust. In your holy name 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. Sarah's beautiful reflection on the scripture reminded me of a quote, whose source I do not know, but which fits perfectly today. God loves you just as you are, but he loves you too much to leave you that way. I love that. A work in progress we are. So let us go forth with that blessing upon us, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A quick shout out to all our Dominican brothers and sisters around the world whose feast day it is today, Saint Dominic. So blessings upon you, upon all of us gathered in prayer. Mother Mary, watch over us, and we'll see you tomorrow.