Today's Lenten Meditation : Give Us Hearts

God of love and compassion, may we always recognize your spirit:

· in the refugee family, seeking safety from violence;

· in the migrant worker, bringing food to our tables;

· in the asylum-seekers, seeking justice for their families;

· in the unaccompanied child, traveling in a dangerous world.

Give us hearts that break open whenever our brothers and sisters turn to us. Give us hearts that no longer turn deaf to their voices in times of need;

Give us eyes to recognize a moment for grace instead of a threat.

Give us voices that fail to remain silent but which decide instead to advocate prophetically.

Give us hands that reach out in welcome, but also in work, for a world of justice until all homelands are safe and secure. 

Bless us, O Lord...

~ Fr. Dan Hartnett S.J.