I have just come back from a retreat where 12 women gathered to pray, rest and open their hearts to the presence of Jesus working in their lives.  At the beginning of the retreat each woman drew the name of another to carry in prayer throughout the weekend. There was such a sense that each of us was held by the prayers of our sisters, but also by the weaving together of our sharing, our testimony and the shared faith of the group. 

Sometimes, having faith for ourselves is hard.  Sometimes we don’t have the emotional capacity to come to Jesus in faith and we are held captive by the pain and suffering of our bodies, minds or hearts. If this is you, know that there are friends waiting to carry you to Christ and Jesus himself is always a friend who will hold you close.

For those of us who have faith, let us show our love in active ways that bear witness to our suffering friends that they are not alone. Let’s take the time to pause and pray with them, to speak words of encouragement and faith, let’s move heaven and earth because of our love and belief.  The friends in this story found a way where there appeared to be no way and they would not let their friend miss the chance to come into Jesus’ presence.

Holy Spirit, strengthen our faith and fan our love for you into a flame so that we might be bold and active on behalf of our loved ones who need your healing touch. Amen

by Christine Da Costa