Daily Thoughts: I have always been struck by the last line in today's Gospel, "He must increase; I must decrease." What a meditation on faith! When you think about it are not John the Baptist's words our everyday challenge and perhaps our hardest challenge?
The world around us tells us everyday to increase. Increase what we have, what we want, what we desire, what we need, who we are! Our economy is build on increasing, increase spending so we can increase building, producing, creating and thus increase profits. When we finally leave home all we want to do is increase because the world tells us we are defined by what we have, what we have achieved, what we own, what we have accumulated. As is often quoted, "The one with the most toys wins!"
Yet, what John is telling us in the Gospel today is that for us to be people of faith, we must decrease so that Jesus, so that God can increase in our lives. It is not about being the greatest, the best, the biggest, the most powerful, the most important. It is about God. John had it all. He was liked, he was loved, he was important, he was powerful, he had all the attention. However, for him, all of this was not as important as his relationship with God. He knew what he was about. He knew his mission and it was time for God to be the most important focus and all John could do was rejoice!
Sometimes we think God is not present, God is always present, at home, at school, at work, in the government, everywhere, the problem is not where is God but that we have made ourselves too big so we and others cannot see God!
Can we let go of the world, let go of what the world says is important and let God? Can we recognize our mission, our ministry, our relationship and let God be the focus. Can we decrease and let God increase in our life and in the world? Tough questions for tough times, but if we are willing the end result is great joy!
Daily Prayer: O God, take delight in us this day! Each day you make us a new creation and so we pray that with the grace you freely offer us each day we may always be found in the likeness of Christ, a likeness that increases within us as we let go and let you guide our life. Help us to rejoice in a life that is focused on your presence, your grace, your mercy, your truth and your love! Amen!
We continue to pray during this Christmas Season for families in 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! Amen!
Runner's Thought: Run today recognizing the motion of life and flow with it, let go of all your preconceptions of God, be open to the vast, unlimited opportunities to connect with God in new and evolving ways as you run.
A couple of SHOUT OUTS this morning. My first SHOUT OUT goes to my sister Bernadette, who celebrates her birthday today, Happy Birthday Bernadette! We will not mention your age but you are my older sister,,, Many blessings today and I hope you will be celebrating a little! My second SHOUT OUT goes to one of my goddaughters, Alexis, who ran the Disney Half Marathon this morning, her first half marathon. I don't know the exact time but I hear she did it in under three hours. I know she was nervous, but she did great! Now I hope she enjoy the glow of a great run!
Enjoy your Saturday everyone, have a great day with many blessings, a little rest and much peace! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
Amen! Well said Uncle Paul!
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