Daily Thoughts: And Jesus said, "They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God...God is not the God of the dead, but of the living for in God all are alive." Two important gifts we need to remember that we are children of God and God is about life not death. How do we live these gifts? Do we recognize that we are children of God? Are we always about life?
Daily Prayer: O God, source of all life, keep us faithful. Grant that we will always recognize the gift of life in all people and may we always be your children in truth and love. Amen!
Runner's Thought: Judge the quality of your run by the steadfastness of your movement towards the presence of God no matter what the struggle!
Have a wonderful Saturday everyone. May you have many blessings today and always. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Friday's Thoughts - 11/23/2012
Daily Thoughts: The Scripture readings are tough today. On the one hand we have the Book of Revelations and John being asked to eat the scroll that is sweet in his mouth but sour in this stomach. Then in the Gospel Jesus is throwing out the money changers and the merchants from the temple, but the leaders cannot do anything because people are hanging on every word that Jesus speaks. What are we to make of the Scriptures today?
Well we might look for a common theme and one might be words. John in the Book of Revelation is ask to eat a scroll of words, they are sweet at the beginning but then sour. Words that are not life giving can do that, they can sound good but in the end they make life difficult if not impossible. However, words that are life giving can lead us in the right direction like Jesus' words.
A theme we cannot ignore is shopping, Black Friday and Jesus' anger with the sellers in the Temple. No, Jesus is not against Black Friday but perhaps the question in Jesus' actions might be, "Where is your focus people?" "What is your priority?" "What is most important to you?"
As I said today's readings are difficult. Perhaps our faith food for the journey today is to hear and speak the write words that are life giving and to always know who and what is the center of our life!
Daily Prayer: O God, Creator of all, hear the prayers of your people today. Prayers that seek peace. Prayers that seek truth. Prayers that seek your love. Help us to know what is most important in life in the midst of a world that often speaks to us words that are not life giving, placing importance on the trivial. May we hear with our hearts your words of everlasting life! Amen!
Runner's Thought: When you run be a pilgrim. If you run and search for God in the ordinary. It is not a pilgrimage to some place special. Your run may be nothing more than a trip around the neighbor hood but if your intention is to talk with God, then you are a pilgrim!
Follow up to Thanksgiving: "Thanksgiving belongs to prayer. Thanksgiving is a true inward acknowledgement, we applying ourselves with great reverence and loving fear with all our powers to work that God moved us to, rejoicing and giving thanks inwardly. And so the power of the Lord's word enters the soul and enlivens the heart and makes us rejoice in the Lord." Julian of Norwich
Have a great day everyone! Shop if your must but also take some extra time with family and friends to just enjoy life! Blessings and peace today and always...Fr. Paul
Well we might look for a common theme and one might be words. John in the Book of Revelation is ask to eat a scroll of words, they are sweet at the beginning but then sour. Words that are not life giving can do that, they can sound good but in the end they make life difficult if not impossible. However, words that are life giving can lead us in the right direction like Jesus' words.
A theme we cannot ignore is shopping, Black Friday and Jesus' anger with the sellers in the Temple. No, Jesus is not against Black Friday but perhaps the question in Jesus' actions might be, "Where is your focus people?" "What is your priority?" "What is most important to you?"
As I said today's readings are difficult. Perhaps our faith food for the journey today is to hear and speak the write words that are life giving and to always know who and what is the center of our life!
Daily Prayer: O God, Creator of all, hear the prayers of your people today. Prayers that seek peace. Prayers that seek truth. Prayers that seek your love. Help us to know what is most important in life in the midst of a world that often speaks to us words that are not life giving, placing importance on the trivial. May we hear with our hearts your words of everlasting life! Amen!
Runner's Thought: When you run be a pilgrim. If you run and search for God in the ordinary. It is not a pilgrimage to some place special. Your run may be nothing more than a trip around the neighbor hood but if your intention is to talk with God, then you are a pilgrim!
Follow up to Thanksgiving: "Thanksgiving belongs to prayer. Thanksgiving is a true inward acknowledgement, we applying ourselves with great reverence and loving fear with all our powers to work that God moved us to, rejoicing and giving thanks inwardly. And so the power of the Lord's word enters the soul and enlivens the heart and makes us rejoice in the Lord." Julian of Norwich
Have a great day everyone! Shop if your must but also take some extra time with family and friends to just enjoy life! Blessings and peace today and always...Fr. Paul
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thanksgiving Thoughts - 11/22/2012
Daily Thought: If you use the readings for the Mass of Thanksgiving Day in the Gospel you hear the story of the ten lepers once again. We had the same story last week. If you use the Gospel for the day you would hear the story of Jesus looking at the City of Jerusalem and crying. Perhaps both Gospel stories are helpful to us today.
I wonder if Jesus looks at Jerusalem, at Israel, at Gaza, at all of the Middle East today and begins to cry? I wonder if Jesus looks at the United States today and begins to cry? I wonder if Jesus looks at us today and begins to cry? We give him so many opportunities to be disappointed in us these days.
Yet every once in a while we provide a glimmer of hope that things will change. Every once in a while there is someone who recognizes the gift of life and is thankful.
The story of the one returning person who had been cured reminds us that in the midst of the busyness of life we have got to pause and be thankful. Life is not always about "me!" It is about being grateful, being thankful and going to the Source of our Life with that gratitude! Shopping can wait, partying can wait, God, prayer, family and friends are in need of our attention! It is a matter of faith and that can make all the difference. St. Paul in his First Letter to the Thessalonians reminds us that "In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." As we journey through life on this Thanksgiving Day let us be aware of God's many gifts and then think first about who makes these gifts possible not just about ourselves and then be grateful even when it might be difficult.
Daily Prayer: Loving God of all thankfulness, your gifts of love and goodness are infinite, help us to pause this day and every day with gratitude for your kindness, mercy and love. Open our hearts to have concern for every person so that all may share your gifts. Finally help us to always recognize your gifts and return to give thanks! Amen!
Runner's Thought: If you run today run with a mindfulness and a thoughtfulness of gratitude for the gift of running and all the gifts you encounter on a run. If you do not run today be sure to take time to give thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I pray that today will be filled with family, friends, food and thankfulness! Be safe today if you are traveling. Pray for peace. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
I wonder if Jesus looks at Jerusalem, at Israel, at Gaza, at all of the Middle East today and begins to cry? I wonder if Jesus looks at the United States today and begins to cry? I wonder if Jesus looks at us today and begins to cry? We give him so many opportunities to be disappointed in us these days.
Yet every once in a while we provide a glimmer of hope that things will change. Every once in a while there is someone who recognizes the gift of life and is thankful.
The story of the one returning person who had been cured reminds us that in the midst of the busyness of life we have got to pause and be thankful. Life is not always about "me!" It is about being grateful, being thankful and going to the Source of our Life with that gratitude! Shopping can wait, partying can wait, God, prayer, family and friends are in need of our attention! It is a matter of faith and that can make all the difference. St. Paul in his First Letter to the Thessalonians reminds us that "In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." As we journey through life on this Thanksgiving Day let us be aware of God's many gifts and then think first about who makes these gifts possible not just about ourselves and then be grateful even when it might be difficult.
Daily Prayer: Loving God of all thankfulness, your gifts of love and goodness are infinite, help us to pause this day and every day with gratitude for your kindness, mercy and love. Open our hearts to have concern for every person so that all may share your gifts. Finally help us to always recognize your gifts and return to give thanks! Amen!
Runner's Thought: If you run today run with a mindfulness and a thoughtfulness of gratitude for the gift of running and all the gifts you encounter on a run. If you do not run today be sure to take time to give thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I pray that today will be filled with family, friends, food and thankfulness! Be safe today if you are traveling. Pray for peace. Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Wednesday's Thoughts - 11/21/2012
Daily Thought: There are perhaps many ways to interpret todays Gospel, however one way that I have often used is to ask the questions, "What is your image of God? And are you afraid of God?" In the story the man gives his servants gold coins and says go out and trade with them. Some of the servants go and trade and make more coins. One servant hides the coin away away in a handkerchief so he has it ready when the master wants it back. The servants who traded are rewarded and servant who stored the coin in the handkerchief has even the coin taken away. The servants who trade took a risk, they could have lost. The third servant took no risk, why? As the story tells us because he was afraid of the master!
We are given with many gifts from God and all we are asked to do is use them as we live out our life. However how we see God makes all the difference in how we use the gifts. If we are afraid of God, afraid of making a mistake then we probably will not take any risks with God's gifts. We will hang on to them, hide them away. If we see God as a friend, a companion, someone who takes risks, who wants us to take risks. Just look at Jesus' life, he took one risk after another, he invested his life everyday. So you see it comes down to how we envision, understand and live out our relationship with God. Another question I often ask is, "What if the first two servants had traded with the coins and lost them?" I cannot answer the question for sure but mMy guess is the master says the exact same thing, "Well done, good servant!" Why because no investment is ever lost it is always out there working in some way. Thus perhaps a challenge for today is to ask ourselves the question, "Are we willing to take a risk and bring God to the world today or are we going to hide God safely away?"
Daily Prayer: O God, Giver of all good gifts, grace us with trust in you so that we will let the gifts of your Spirit flow throughout our entire life. Help us to take a risk and share your gifts with the world. Cast out our fear with a love that enables us to take a chance letting your gifts increase and multiply making us and the world so much richer! Amen!
Runner's Thought: The meditative runner is fortunate enough to have found a way that refreshes the body and renews the spirit, thus enabling the runner to be born again with every runner.
Happy Feast of the Presentation of Mary! Have a great Wednesday and if you don't check in tomorrow have a great and safe Thanksgiving where ever you are! Please pray for peace in the Middle East especially Israel! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
We are given with many gifts from God and all we are asked to do is use them as we live out our life. However how we see God makes all the difference in how we use the gifts. If we are afraid of God, afraid of making a mistake then we probably will not take any risks with God's gifts. We will hang on to them, hide them away. If we see God as a friend, a companion, someone who takes risks, who wants us to take risks. Just look at Jesus' life, he took one risk after another, he invested his life everyday. So you see it comes down to how we envision, understand and live out our relationship with God. Another question I often ask is, "What if the first two servants had traded with the coins and lost them?" I cannot answer the question for sure but mMy guess is the master says the exact same thing, "Well done, good servant!" Why because no investment is ever lost it is always out there working in some way. Thus perhaps a challenge for today is to ask ourselves the question, "Are we willing to take a risk and bring God to the world today or are we going to hide God safely away?"
Daily Prayer: O God, Giver of all good gifts, grace us with trust in you so that we will let the gifts of your Spirit flow throughout our entire life. Help us to take a risk and share your gifts with the world. Cast out our fear with a love that enables us to take a chance letting your gifts increase and multiply making us and the world so much richer! Amen!
Runner's Thought: The meditative runner is fortunate enough to have found a way that refreshes the body and renews the spirit, thus enabling the runner to be born again with every runner.
Happy Feast of the Presentation of Mary! Have a great Wednesday and if you don't check in tomorrow have a great and safe Thanksgiving where ever you are! Please pray for peace in the Middle East especially Israel! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Tuesday's Daily Thoughts - 11/20/2012
Daily Thoughts: As Zacchaeus found out in the Gospel today that life can often get crowded which makes it hard to see, meet and experience what is really important. At these moment extra effort is required to get above and beyond the crowd so that we can see what really matters. Often when we make this extra effort we experience something far more than we expected! Zacchaeus for his extra effort got to not only see Jesus but meet him, to have dinner with him and to host him for the night. It was the extra effort both to see and to make the most of his encounter with Jesus that made all the difference. Zacchaeus found reconciliation and salvation by getting above the crowd! As we journey through our own crowded lives today are we ready to make the extra effort to see and encounter Jesus as he walks by? Are we willing to get above and beyond the crowd to make a difference in and with our lives?
Daily Prayer: O God, of Great Forgiveness and Peace, look graciously upon us today that we may have the freedom to move beyond the crowds of our life to receive with joy the richness and abundance of your presence. May we always make the extra effort in our journey of life that will make all the difference! Amen!
Runner's Thought: As you run today, simply imagine that God is with you on your run. It doesn't matter how you conceive God, just take God with you, let God accompany you today!
Have a great Tuesday and as always many blessings as you journey through today! Peace in Christ's Passion,,,Fr. Paul
Daily Prayer: O God, of Great Forgiveness and Peace, look graciously upon us today that we may have the freedom to move beyond the crowds of our life to receive with joy the richness and abundance of your presence. May we always make the extra effort in our journey of life that will make all the difference! Amen!
Runner's Thought: As you run today, simply imagine that God is with you on your run. It doesn't matter how you conceive God, just take God with you, let God accompany you today!
Have a great Tuesday and as always many blessings as you journey through today! Peace in Christ's Passion,,,Fr. Paul
Monday, November 19, 2012
Monday's Daily Thoughts - 11/19/2012
Daily Thought: I have two thoughts about the scripture today, one is my own the other I am going to steal from brother Passionist who gave a reflection at our community mass this morning. Both thoughts I think have a similar focus...
Now I am not a big fan of the Book of Revelation. I have always found it a tough read and an even tougher preach! Yet, early this morning a line in today's reading struck me, "Yet, I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first." The Lord has just praised the Church of Ephesus for a number of good things it has done however, the Lord is upset because the community has lost its initial fervor, its first love!
I think this struck me because I always remember some advise given me just after I was ordained by a wonderful older Passionist who was in the last years of his life. One day shortly have I was ordained he appeared at the door of my room and said, "Son, I don't have a lot to offer you these days but I will give you a bit of advise, always celebrate mass as if it is your first and your last!" I have always remembered this and certainly every time I have celebrated mass I have tried to celebrate as if it is my first and last mass. Yet, I know sometimes I don't have the initial energy, that first love that I had the day of my first mass. I don't have that sense of urgency that I would have if it were my last mass. Whether it is the powerful images of the Book of Revelation or a saintly Passionist wisdom figure the message is the same from God, "stay in love with me and live out of that love!"
At our community mass this morning one of my brother Passionist reflected on today's Gospel and he challenged us with the point that sometimes we would prefer not to see. The blind man in the Gospel wants to see but sometimes we find it easier not to see, it means less responsibility, less hurt or pain, less expectations on us. If I look into my own life I would have to say his observation is true. I think there have been times when I really didn't want to see, it was easier not to!
If we can find and enliven that first love for God, others and ourselves then we will always want to see! Or perhaps if we ask God in faith to see then our first love will once again come to life! May this day be one of seeing and rich in energy grounded in love!
Daily Prayer: God of Great Mystery, Giver of all good gifts, enlive our hearts with that first love of you, so that we might see all that is good in our world, in one another and in ourselves. Deepen our sense of reverenece for you and for all of life. Nurture in us what is good and grace us in your ever loving care this day and always! Amen!
Runner's Thought: "Run to glory, or at least to the end of the block!" or "Would we be doing any of this if Pheidippides had been in just a little better shape?" - Bob Schwartz
Have a wonderful day and many blessings to see and love today and always! Peace in Christ's Passion, Fr. Paul
Now I am not a big fan of the Book of Revelation. I have always found it a tough read and an even tougher preach! Yet, early this morning a line in today's reading struck me, "Yet, I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first." The Lord has just praised the Church of Ephesus for a number of good things it has done however, the Lord is upset because the community has lost its initial fervor, its first love!
I think this struck me because I always remember some advise given me just after I was ordained by a wonderful older Passionist who was in the last years of his life. One day shortly have I was ordained he appeared at the door of my room and said, "Son, I don't have a lot to offer you these days but I will give you a bit of advise, always celebrate mass as if it is your first and your last!" I have always remembered this and certainly every time I have celebrated mass I have tried to celebrate as if it is my first and last mass. Yet, I know sometimes I don't have the initial energy, that first love that I had the day of my first mass. I don't have that sense of urgency that I would have if it were my last mass. Whether it is the powerful images of the Book of Revelation or a saintly Passionist wisdom figure the message is the same from God, "stay in love with me and live out of that love!"
At our community mass this morning one of my brother Passionist reflected on today's Gospel and he challenged us with the point that sometimes we would prefer not to see. The blind man in the Gospel wants to see but sometimes we find it easier not to see, it means less responsibility, less hurt or pain, less expectations on us. If I look into my own life I would have to say his observation is true. I think there have been times when I really didn't want to see, it was easier not to!
If we can find and enliven that first love for God, others and ourselves then we will always want to see! Or perhaps if we ask God in faith to see then our first love will once again come to life! May this day be one of seeing and rich in energy grounded in love!
Daily Prayer: God of Great Mystery, Giver of all good gifts, enlive our hearts with that first love of you, so that we might see all that is good in our world, in one another and in ourselves. Deepen our sense of reverenece for you and for all of life. Nurture in us what is good and grace us in your ever loving care this day and always! Amen!
Runner's Thought: "Run to glory, or at least to the end of the block!" or "Would we be doing any of this if Pheidippides had been in just a little better shape?" - Bob Schwartz
Have a wonderful day and many blessings to see and love today and always! Peace in Christ's Passion, Fr. Paul
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Sunday Thoughts - 11/18/2012
Sunday Thoughts: The reading today are all about the end time. I have to say I am never too excited about this time of the liturgical year with its focus on the end time. What do you say? As Jesus says we do not know when it is coming. We have no control over it. It will come in God's time. So why think about it? Well, I guess Jesus just wants us to be ready, to pay attention to the world around us! I think St. John of the Cross puts it well, "At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity. In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human successes, but rather on how much we have loved." - So I guess a good question for our journey of life today is how much do we love?
Sunday Prayer: O God, Author of all life, grace us this day and always with the your bountiful love so that we might not forget our inescapable duty to love others. Help our love to be positive, life giving, inviting, forgiving. patient and inclusive. May our love never be blind to the struggles of this life. May our love always bring us to your peace! - Amen!
Runner's Thought: "I may be getting slower, getting older, losing my hair, my flexibility and have decreasing maximum heart rate, but with the running relativity theory, I'm actually the best I ever was!" - From I Run Therefore I Am - Nuts by Bob Schwartz
Have a peaceful, prayerful and relaxing Sunday! Peace in Christ's Passion, Fr. Paul
Sunday Prayer: O God, Author of all life, grace us this day and always with the your bountiful love so that we might not forget our inescapable duty to love others. Help our love to be positive, life giving, inviting, forgiving. patient and inclusive. May our love never be blind to the struggles of this life. May our love always bring us to your peace! - Amen!
Runner's Thought: "I may be getting slower, getting older, losing my hair, my flexibility and have decreasing maximum heart rate, but with the running relativity theory, I'm actually the best I ever was!" - From I Run Therefore I Am - Nuts by Bob Schwartz
Have a peaceful, prayerful and relaxing Sunday! Peace in Christ's Passion, Fr. Paul
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