Before sharing my thoughts today I would just like to say Happy Birthday to my oldest niece, Alice. She has reached that magical age of 39...may she have a wonderful day and a wonderful 39th year!
Daily Thoughts: As I read the story from Matthew's Gospel this morning about the birth of Jesus I was struck by something at the end of the story. "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us." Now I have read this sentence from Matthew's Gospel and preached on it many time. But early this morning a different thought entered my prayer.
Over the past few days surrounding the tragedy in Newtown, CT many statements have been made by leaders both civil and religious. One that has drawn a lot of controversy is one made by Michael Huckabee. He said that the reason for the violence is because of the absence of God in our schools. It struck me after reading today Gospel how arrogant we have become as a culture, a society and as a country, that we think we have taken God out of something, whether it be home, school, the work place or our life. God is with us always and everywhere. As a first or second grader I memorized the answer to the question in the Baltimore Catechism, "Where is God? Answer: God is everywhere!" To think we have taken God out of our schools is just pure arrogance!
God was at Sandy Hook the other day, and God cried just like everyone else. No matter what we do in our culture, our society, in our country God will always be with us. The challenge for us is to recognize God's presence among us and to respond to that presence not out of fear but out of faith like Mary and Joseph did.
I am a fan of NCIS, and I am especially a fan of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) and the other day I was watching a rerun and Gibbs told Abby, "Family is not always about science and DNA it is about people who care." God is not always about miracles and mystery, God is about caring and so must we!
Daily Prayer: All Loving God, set us free from our need to control you that we might find the newness of your presence in our lives even when we seem to be in darkness. We continue our prayers this day for families if grief; for little ones whose lives were too short; for teachers, administrators and responders who put others first; for a community that must find a way to live; for all of us who seek a world of lasting peace! Help us to know Emmanuel, that You are always with us! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Run like your journey is not over, like the best is yet to come and like God is with you!
Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone, blessing today on all you do and on all you meet! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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