Daily Thoughts: It is hard to keep my mind of the scriptures this morning. We hear about Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus but my mind goes to the town of Newtown, the school named Sandy Hook and the 27 lives lost.
I thought about all of you who are parent. I am sure that no matter what age you are, or at what point in your life as a parent you are, you must have stopped yesterday at some point and just thought about your kid or kids, perhaps you tried to contacted them or at some point made your way home with the soul purpose of just wanting to embrace your child or children. It would seem that yesterday's violence in Newtown, Conn. was a parents worst nightmare! It just doesn't make sense. I recalled last night the Old Testament story of Rachel. There is a voice heard in Ramah, weeping and with great mourning. Rachel is weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.
There are many voices weeping today in Newtown and around the world. Voices of parents, voices of children. Perhaps these voices are telling us something. Bishop Oscar Romero once said, "Those who want to bear the mark of the Spirit and the fire that Christ baptizes with must take the risk of renouncing everything and seeking only God's reign and justice." Do we truly want to bear the marks of being christian people? Do we want to bear the marks of Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus? Do we want to be a people of Life? Perhaps for the weeping and the mourning to stop we need prayer vigils outside of gun shops. Guns are not pro life!
Daily Prayer: Lord, I find it hard to pray today, my tears are for the little lives lost yesterday. May they be at peace with you now never to know violence again! May their parents, families and friends be comforted. And may I shed the weight of indifference and truly be marked with your Spirit and work to bring about your reign and justice!
Runner's Thought: Make your run a prayer for children today. Run in memory of the 20 who lost their precious lives and for all alive that they never know violence in their lives!
My prayers of blessing goes out to all of you today! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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