Julie Billiart: Finding God in Everyday Life
Opening Song: You Are Near Dan Schutte
Yahweh, I know you are near, standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe, and you lead me in ways everlasting.
Lord, you have searched my heart, and you know when I sit and when I stand.
Your hand is upon me protecting me from death, keeping me from harm.
Where can I run from your love? If I fly to the heavens you are there;
If I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea, still I'd find you there.
Readings:
Do not be afraid for I am with you,
Stop being anxious an watchful, for I am your God.
I give you strength, I bring you help.
I have called you by name, you are mine.
adapted from Isaiah
Anyone who loves me will keep my word,
And my Father will love them
And we will come to them
And make our home with them.John 14
Know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time.
Matthew 28
Psalm Response: Psalm 23 Tom Conry
(Alternate sides)
God alone may lead my spirit, far away from want and fear,
For the Lord is my true shepherd and I know the Lord is near.
I am led beside God's peaceful water and I sleep in the arms of the earth.
Who guides me along paths of honor? Who refreshes my life from my birth?
Though I wander the valley of dying, I shall know that I walk in your sight,
With your staff that is ever before me and your rod to guard at my right.
You have spread your banquet before me in the unbroken sight of my foes,
While my head is anointed with kindness and the cup of my life overflows.
Only mercy and goodness pursue me while that breath and that justice endure.
And I'll dwell in the house of God's keeping who has opened the mouths of the poor.
God alone may lead my spirit, far away from want and fear,
For the Lord is my true shepherd and I know the Lord is near.
Readings:
How much we are to be pitied if we cannot see the good God in all that may happen to us!
L47 – To Soeur Blin, January 9 and 10, 1807
Let us turn to God in beginning our actions, then try as far as we can to preserve His holy presence! Go on from moment to moment, it is the surest way of doing the holy will of God. attributed to St. Julie
I recommend to you most strongly to put your confidence in the good God and in the Blessed Virgin, our good Mother for temporal matters. As long as you belong to the good God I am not worried about the rest; he is our good Father.
L320 – To Soeur Angele, March 8, 1814
God is always faithful to His promises. He has promised to be with us in our trials, if we place all our confidence in Him.
Counsels of Perfection p.103
Reflection -- Sharing:
Where do I find God in my life?
Where might I find God if I were to look more carefully?
Closing Prayer:
Good and gracious God, may we, like Julie,
be ever mindful of your presence.
May we be open to You
in whatever way you choose to come to us.
May we be always grateful for Your love and care,
and may we say with Julie, "How good You are!"
Closing Song: You Are Near Dan Schutte
Yahweh, I know you are near, standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe, and you lead me in ways everlasting.
You know my heart and its ways, you who formed me before I was born,
in secret of darkness before I saw the sun in my mother's womb.
Marvelous to me are your works, how profound are your thoughts my Lord.
Even if I could count them, they number as the stars, you would still be there.
Celebrating Ntre Dame