With Gladness

SCRIPTURE
-

REFLECTION
- Jeff

MUSIC
- Nouveau-Ne by Reimagined

- Grateful by the Red Clay Strays

PRAYER
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.

NOTES
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Transcript

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SPEAKER_03 0:21

Blessings of peace and love be with you, brothers and sisters. It is a privilege to lead you in prayer today. I'm Father Ron. I'm so glad you're with us. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

unknown 0:43

Amen.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

O Lord, open my lips.

SPEAKER_05 0:46

And my mouth shall declare your praise.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Psalm 6. Returning home. O my God, though I have turned from you, continue to enfold me with your love. Be gracious to me, heart of my heart. For I am sad and weary.

SPEAKER_04 1:12

Surround me with your healing light. That my body, mind, and soul might heal. How long must I wait, O God?

SPEAKER_01 1:25

I opened the door of my heart to you, my beloved, enter in and bless me with your steadfast love. I shall remember you all my days. I shall sing praises to you throughout the night.

SPEAKER_04 1:44

Though my fears are running forever, they shall be quieted by love. Illusions that lived in the ego can now turn to the light. I will know peace as I return home to you.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

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

SPEAKER_04 2:07

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

SPEAKER_02 2:28

Whatever you do, do from the heart. As for the Lord and not for others. The word of the Lord. One of the hardest things in life can be doing good when nobody notices. So let's be honest. We all like appreciation. We like the thing, the recognition, the occasional great job. There's nothing wrong with that. But the problem comes when appreciation becomes the reason we do things. Paul reminds us today. Whatever you do, do from the heart. Notice whatever. Not just ministry. Not just prayer. Not just a big heroic moment. Whatever. The meeting, the dishes, the mowing, the volunteering. The sacrifice nobody sees. You know when I think about this verse? I think about my parents. For years. I've watched them serve their parents. Not always on a stage. Not always in front of cameras. Not because someone was handing out awards. They simply showed up. They cooked meals. They set up for events. They cleaned things that needed cleaning. They led and attended meetings. They volunteered for projects and quietly filled gaps whenever something needed to be done. And if you've spent enough time around parish life, you know who keeps the church running. It's usually not the people everyone recognizes. It's the faithful men and women who unlock doors, wash dishes, hold bulletins, count collections, move tables, and somehow know where everything is stored in the parish hall. Most people never see it. But God does. Christianity isn't only about our actions, it's about the intention behind them. And that's why the saints were so remarkable. Saint Therese taught that even the smallest acts done with great love could become treasures in heaven. A hidden sacrifice, an unseen kindness, a job well done simply because God deserved our best. I think that's what my parents taught me without ever preaching a sermon. Faithfulness isn't measured by visibility. It's measured by love. Maybe today you're doing work that feels unnoticed. Maybe you're caring for a family member, working long hours, serving at church, or carrying responsibilities that nobody seems to appreciate. Take heart. The Lord sees every sacrifice, every act of generosity, every hidden service. Every time you choose love when nobody is watching. Because in God's kingdom, the question isn't who noticed? The question is, was it done for God? Remember, some of the holiest people you'll ever meet may never stand in the spotlight. But heaven knows their names.

SPEAKER_03 7:09

And with confidence, 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. Lord God, let our love for you never remain hidden within our hearts. May it be revealed in the kindness we offer and the quiet good we do in your name. When our efforts go unnoticed or unappreciated, remind us that you see what others do not. May our lives become a visible reflection of that love so that through us others may encounter you. We ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. 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. Every Friday is concert Friday here at the God Minute, where we play a popular song with a spiritual meaning to lead us into the day or night for some of you. And the one today fits perfectly that I chose considering Jeff's reflection about the gift of his mom and dad, who continues to teach him and others what it means to serve the Lord with gladness. And let me just say, I know his mom and dad, and what he says is so true. They are a gift to so many. Well, hopefully, as he was talking, you were thinking of someone that you know in your life who also encourage and inspire you to greatness. Well, here's a song to God in response to all those special people in our lives, with a title of the song that sums it all up, Grateful. It's by the Red Clay Strays. Hope you enjoy it as you go forth in God's blessing, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_07 10:16

Amen.

SPEAKER_03 10:17

And we'll see you tomorrow.

SPEAKER_05 10:20

Whenever I'm broken, whenever I've sinned, whenever I'm hopeless, wherever I've been, you've always been with me, reeling me in through all my failings again and again. The good Lord's forgiveness always brings me to my knees. Through the good and the bad times, he still gives me a song to see when I sit at my table and eat the food you put there, and my loved ones all around me, not one empty chair. That's when my heart gets so thankful for the mercy you've shown me, and though I'm undeserving, you still give me all I need.